There's One Creature of the Deep That Can Scare Even Orcas Away

A study combining observations from Iceland and the Strait of Gibraltar found that orcas often retreat when long-finned pilot whales appear.

In some cases, orcas even launch high-speed chases, but field reports from multiple regions consistently show them leaving encounters with pilot whales.

Earlier experiments also showed pilot whales are attracted to orca calls, pointing to an unknown acoustic or social cue shaping the interaction.

The findings challenge assumptions about apex predators and add a new wrinkle to understanding marine predator behavior.