Nice Guy, asshole Humpback Whales starving other, better animals

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Professor Shark: May 22, 2012

"The Tyee posted:

The fighting was in full swing by the time Alisa Schulman-Janiger arrived on the scene. In the water off Monterey Bay, California, a pod of roughly 10 killer whales was working to isolate a lone grey whale calf from its mother. Blocking their advance, an army of no less than 16 humpback whales was working in shifts to defend the calf and its mother from the attack.
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Within 45 minutes, the calf was dead, and the mother left the scene soon after. But the battle carried on for at least another seven hours. The humpbacks chased the orcas, thrashing them with their fins and tails, and preventing them from feeding on the dead grey whale.

�It was a really crazy scene to watch,� says Schulman-Janiger, a researcher with the nonprofit California Killer Whale Project. The humpbacks didn�t seem to be acting in defence of themselves, or even of one of their own. In fact, the humpbacks forsook nearby food, sometimes for hours at a time, to thwart the orcas� efforts to feed on the gray whale.

In a new review study, Schulman-Janiger and her colleagues have gathered numerous accounts of humpback whales acting with seeming altruism to defend members of other species, including whales, seals, sea lions, and even fish, from killer whale attacks.

�We think that what�s going on for them is they just hear killer whales attacking, and they go in and break it up,� says Robert Pitman, who works for the US National Marine Fisheries Service and coauthored the report.

Pitman first noticed this unusual behaviour along the Antarctic Peninsula, south of Argentina and Chile, when humpbacks cut into the middle of an orca attack on a Weddell seal. Pitman says that during this fight, a humpback flipped around and lifted the seal onto its chest in an effort to protect it from the killer whales � a sight that was captured by a BBC film crew that had been on location with the researchers. According to Pitman, the footage shows that the humpback�s protective maneuver was not accidental � at one point the humpback nudged the seal back into safety when it was about to slide off.

�These [humpbacks] are definitely interested in preventing these killer whales from harming these other animals,� Pitman says.

After his Antarctic encounter, Pitman started gathering other similar accounts. Not all humpbacks display this behaviour. Out of 72 encounters reviewed between humpbacks and orcas attacking mammals, Pitman and his colleagues found that 61 involved the orcas preying on species other than humpbacks.

What exactly is motivating humpbacks to intervene on behalf of other marine life is difficult to determine. It could be territorial, but Pitman says that even if the whales are not defending other species deliberately, it still amounts to �inadvertent altruism.�

There�s also a chance that some humpbacks may be reacting to previous trauma, says Schulman-Janiger. Two of the 16 whales she identified as exhibiting interventionist behaviour had the marks of previous attacks by killer whales on their fins. These scars could have come from being attacked when they were calves themselves, or from injuries sustained while defending their offspring.

In watching the attacks, Schulman-Janiger says she sees what looks like emotions on display. The humpback whales �are definitely bothered by what�s going on.�

Pitman says this behaviour could be a remnant of the interspecies conflict that occurred with greater frequency before industrial whaling decimated both populations. �As whales continue to recover, I think we should expect more surprising things like this,� he says.

In all seriousness this is pretty cool imo and I like Humpback Whales, they're like the questing knights of the sea

# ? Aug 22, 2016 15:02

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# ? Apr 18, 2024 10:38

Fat-Lip-Sum-41.mp3: Nov 15, 2003

the probe was looking for an update on the war between humpback and orca

# ? Aug 22, 2016 15:07

Nefarious 2.0: Apr 22, 2008; Offense is overrated anyway.

we need an army of whales to protect dad gay and drad bert

# ? Aug 22, 2016 15:10

Lascivious Sloth: Apr 26, 2008; by sebmojo

It doesn't seem to say the more obvious which is from a survival point of view if the humpbacks reduce the feeding of Orcas and starve them off, the Orcas can't prey on the humpbacks own young. Googling 'what is humbpacks natural predator' and Orca comes up as number 1, so uh yeah

# ? Aug 22, 2016 15:11

FlimFlam Imam: Mar 1, 2007; Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams

I'd like to hear more about the Contests, events & more from Tyee and select partners.

Thanks!

# ? Aug 22, 2016 15:13

Luvcow: Jul 1, 2007; One day nearer spring

Nefarious 2.0 posted:

we need an army of whales to protect dad gay and drad bert

# ? Aug 22, 2016 15:15

reallivedinosaur: Jun 13, 2012; Ogdober subrise! XDDD

i wish we still used whale oil

i mean the UK isnt perfect but I'd much rather support whales than the middle east

# ? Aug 22, 2016 15:16

Triggered: Aug 21, 2016; Learn about this great man on mormon.org

The Japanese would have protected the baby whale from the orcas.

# ? Aug 22, 2016 15:20

T.S. Smelliot: Apr 23, 2010; by FactsAreUseless

I don't care about any of this poo poo op but I want to hear more about the contests, events and more from Tyee and select partners

# ? Aug 22, 2016 15:20

Iron Prince: Aug 28, 2005; Buglord

drat that sure is an op!!!

# ? Aug 22, 2016 15:23

take the moon: Feb 13, 2011; by sebmojo

i lust for whale death

# ? Aug 22, 2016 15:41

nigga crab pollock: Mar 26, 2010; by Lowtax

i mean dolphins are basically as smart as people right

whats stopping whales

# ? Aug 22, 2016 15:44

mom and dad fight a lot: Sep 21, 2006; If you count them all, this sentence has exactly seventy-two characters.

Obviously the humpbacks are trying to white night other species in exchange for sex.

Humpbacks are goons.

mom and dad fight a lot fucked around with this message at 15:47 on Aug 22, 2016

# ? Aug 22, 2016 15:44

Professor Shark: May 22, 2012

Airborne Viking posted:

Obviously the humpbacks are trying to white night other species in exchange for sex.

Humpbacks are goons.

It doesn't even sound like they're very good at what they're trying to do

# ? Aug 22, 2016 15:53

Jerry Mumphrey: Mar 11, 2004; by zen death robot
(and can't post for 4 years!)

i'm a real grumpback until i've had my coffee :shobon:

# ? Aug 22, 2016 16:02

FlimFlam Imam: Mar 1, 2007; Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams

Airborne Viking posted:

Obviously the humpbacks are trying to white night other species in exchange for sex.

Humpbacks are goons.

I carried your dead calf for miles AND THIS IS THE THANKS I GET!?

# ? Aug 22, 2016 16:02

Woden: May 6, 2006

Lascivious Sloth posted:

It doesn't seem to say the more obvious which is from a survival point of view if the humpbacks reduce the feeding of Orcas and starve them off, the Orcas can't prey on the humpbacks own young. Googling 'what is humbpacks natural predator' and Orca comes up as number 1, so uh yeah

Humans did the same poo poo forever and the whole stopping predators from eating your dead helped us immensely.

# ? Aug 22, 2016 16:17

Applewhite: Aug 16, 2014; by vyelkin; Nap Ghost

lol eat poo poo, Orcas.

# ? Aug 22, 2016 16:19

Professor Shark: May 22, 2012

I never watched Blackfish, but I assume I'd be like "gently caress those whales"

Whale Wars is a pretty good show, the Japanese chop up a bunch of whales for no reason while the hippies cry and a big fat tin pot dictator runs an idiot ship of morons

# ? Aug 22, 2016 16:25

ScRoTo TuRbOtUrD: Jan 21, 2007

Applewhite posted:

lol eat poo poo, Orcas.

same except for instead of poo poo its nothing at all

# ? Aug 22, 2016 16:29

extra stout: Feb 24, 2005; ISILDUR's ERR

Nefarious 2.0 posted:

we need an army of whales to protect dad gay and drad bert

i for one welcome our new whale overlords

# ? Aug 22, 2016 17:06

Triggered: Aug 21, 2016; Learn about this great man on mormon.org

Whales as overlords? The useless fucks cant do poo poo except moo in the ocean and get shot with grenade tipped harpoons.

# ? Aug 22, 2016 17:19

Smash it Smash hit: Dec 30, 2009; prettay, prettay

Jerry Mumphrey posted:

i'm a real grumpback until i've had my coffee

The latest cars sell on a quiet ride. They're made to keep out outside noise. This benefit can hurts us in that it blocks out needed sounds like a siren, a call for help or warning cries. God's love saves & secures us. Some can use this benefit to hurt themselves & feel that going against God's ways won't hurt, being God will still love us & will recover us. Our actions still have consequences that can make life much less enjoyable than it can be if we cooperate w/ God. God's love realized will always move us towards God Rom 6:15 "GRACE"

# ? Aug 22, 2016 17:28

Philosopher King: Oct 25, 2006

Nice to see the new Redwall books are coming along smoothly.

# ? Aug 22, 2016 17:30

Professor Shark: May 22, 2012

How can you be the biggest thing on Earth but have no way of fighting back against a much smaller albeit faster animal

Do whales kill things with their tails?

# ? Aug 22, 2016 17:32

EorayMel: May 30, 2015; WE GET IT. YOU LOVE GUN JESUS. Toujours des fusils Bullpup Fran�ais.

A goon's favorite whale is a sperm whale.

# ? Aug 22, 2016 17:33

Smash it Smash hit: Dec 30, 2009; prettay, prettay

I thought their favorite was your mom

Well I guess technically your mom is a sperm whale so,

# ? Aug 22, 2016 17:34

T.S. Smelliot: Apr 23, 2010; by FactsAreUseless

Page one almost gone and still not a shred of information on additional contests and prizes as well as events from select partners This Thread is really turning into a disappointment voted 2

# ? Aug 22, 2016 18:53

Smash it Smash hit: Dec 30, 2009; prettay, prettay

Angry Birds Suicide posted:

Page one almost gone and still not a shred of information on additional contests and prizes as well as events from select partners This Thread is really turning into a disappointment voted 2

Did you see my yo momma joke?

# ? Aug 22, 2016 22:34

Strep Vote: May 5, 2004; أنا أحب حليب الشوكولاتة

orcas are a type of dolphin right? this is just an interspecies conflict for world domination. i think the difference is that dolphins are more violent and rapey.

whales vs dolphins, who do you choose?

# ? Aug 22, 2016 22:54

JiveHonky: May 12, 2001; by zen death robot; Grimey Drawer

quote:

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that motherfuckers!

# ? Aug 22, 2016 22:58

Flavahbeast: Jul 21, 2001

liberal western media broadcasts and their egalitarian moralist bullshit have corrupted these once noble animals

# ? Aug 22, 2016 23:00

JIZZ DENOUEMENT: Oct 3, 2012; STRIKE!

Cetaceans are cool. Whenever people are like "don't kill sharks, our ecosystem will die!!" I'm like nah lmao orcas will just continue their world dominance

# ? Aug 22, 2016 23:03

penus penus penus: Nov 9, 2014; by piss__donald

Wouldn't have happens if the whale had a gun

# ? Aug 22, 2016 23:34

Dogmeat: Jun 20, 2003; Woof!

JIZZ DENOUEMENT posted:

Cetaceans are cool. Whenever people are like "don't kill sharks, our ecosystem will die!!" I'm like nah lmao orcas will just continue their world dominance

They were studying great white sharks off the Channel Islands in SoCal when a pod of orcas that usually chills out in mexico decided to head farther north. They took a shark and pretty much every shark in the vicinity immediately just said gently caress it and bailed and just stayed in the deep cold water for the rest of the season. Even the sharks know what's up.

# ? Aug 22, 2016 23:38

ScRoTo TuRbOtUrD: Jan 21, 2007

im sorry about your brother op

# ? Aug 23, 2016 00:11

mom and dad fight a lot: Sep 21, 2006; If you count them all, this sentence has exactly seventy-two characters.

Professor Shark posted:

It doesn't even sound like they're very good at what they're trying to do

Airborne Viking posted:

Humpbacks are goons.

# ? Aug 23, 2016 03:06

Professor Shark: May 22, 2012

JIZZ DENOUEMENT posted:

Cetaceans are cool. Whenever people are like "don't kill sharks, our ecosystem will die!!" I'm like nah lmao orcas will just continue their world dominance

Hey gently caress you buddy!

# ? Aug 23, 2016 11:23

Triggered: Aug 21, 2016; Learn about this great man on mormon.org

My favorite thing about orcas is when they kill their trainers at seaworld and because seaworld doesn't give a gently caress they just keep on sending new trainers in.

# ? Aug 23, 2016 11:38

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# ? Apr 18, 2024 10:38

Vincent Van Goatse: Nov 8, 2006; Enjoy every sandwich.; Smellrose

Nefarious 2.0 posted:

we need an army of whales to protect dad gay and drad bert

no we don't

# ? Aug 23, 2016 11:42

The Something Awful Forums > Archives > General Bullshit > Nice Guy, asshole Humpback Whales starving other, better animals

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