r/whales • u/tigerlily_orca • 1d ago
Scientists say this female orca adopted a pilot whale calf - what if she just wanted a pet or companion instead?
https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/n-s-researcher-identifies-first-recorded-case-of-an-orca-caring-for-pilot-whale-baby-1.6286160The article says:
Zwamborn said that while researchers can't know for sure, she and her colleagues suspect the killer whale took the newborn away from its parents.
She said it's possible that this particular orca has been unsuccessful in either getting pregnant or keeping a newborn orca alive and went out in search of its own whale calf.
Do you think anyone has considered that the orca may have wanted a pet, not an adopted calf? Instead of being a mother to the pilot whale, what if she just wanted a companion and rescued it like humans rescue dogs and cats?
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u/David_Headley_2008 1d ago
Wish to see orca relations with other toothed whales as well, because imagine if orcas adopt a bull sperm whale, an incredible asset due to size and ability to dive deep
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u/ribcracker 23h ago
It's in interesting (though sad) thought that she adjusted to her need for raising another generation via a nontraditional path. Whether she stole the calf or happened upon it would be interesting to know just because of the implications on her initial intentions, but in general I personally wonder if this relationship fills a personal need she has from losing her calves prior or if this is a subconscious fulfillment of the more general species instinct to breed.
Either way I hope the best for them both.
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u/Snork_kitty 14h ago
The calf died (see article) - no food (milk) available from the orca
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u/ribcracker 14h ago
I did read it, but missed it near the bottom.
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u/Snork_kitty 13h ago
I almost did too - I guess they are assuming it's dead. Sad...
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u/ribcracker 13h ago
I wonder if she had milk from a recent calf loss it would have been a better outcome. It’s unfortunate that she most likely took the calf from parents for this to end this way like her first. I want to root for her but it nots so great for the birth parents of her adopted calf.
You’re totally right it’s sad all around.
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u/infrawgnito 21h ago
What will the orca do with the pilot calf as it gets older? Will the pilot whale calf be accepted as a regular pod member? Would it hunt with the orcas? Interesting to follow this case.
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u/SurayaThrowaway12 12h ago
The pilot whale calf was quite emaciated and was not spotted again with the pod. The female orca would not have been able to nurse the pilot whale calf if she did not have any newborn calves of her own.
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u/HauntedButtCheeks 12h ago
The calf was underfed and is assumed dead. The kidnapper didn't have any milk to feed the calf.
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u/Jumpy-Aerie-3244 21h ago
Theres a ton of speculation and anthropomorphizing in animal behavior research. Partly because some aspects are virtually unknowable and partly because getting the answers requires very tedious and expensive experiments.
I'd also add that more human relatable stories get headlines and hence helps with grant money and academic prestige.
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u/overdriveandreverb 16h ago
No, since it is newborn and needs milk, mother newborn, not pet, not companion relationship.
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u/CaptainCetacean 1d ago
Pilot whales are of similar intelligence to orcas, it’s likely that she adopted the calf as a calf, not a pet. There’s no evidence that cetaceans keep pets.