One of the largest creatures on Earth is trying to form a connection with people

In the vast expanses of the world’s oceans lives one of the largest and most intelligent animals on Earth — the orca (Orcinus orca). And, as recent research shows, these majestic predators seem to be actively trying to establish an unusual connection with humans by offering them food. A new fascinating study documented 34 instances in which wild orcas shared their prey with humans, occurring over a 20-year period in four different oceans. These rare encounters happened near boats, in open water, and even from the shore, raising profound questions about the intelligence, communication, and social behavior of these remarkable marine mammals, according to T4.

“Orcas often share food with each other — it’s a prosocial behavior and a way they build relationships,” explains lead author Jared Towers from Bay Cetology in British Columbia. “The fact that they’re also sharing food with humans may indicate an interest in communicating with us.”

The documented 34 incidents involved six different orca populations offering humans access to 18 types of prey. These included six species of fish, five mammals, three invertebrates, two birds, one reptile, and even a piece of seaweed. In 97 percent of these cases, orcas patiently waited for a human response, sometimes lingering at the surface for several minutes. Particularly striking were moments when the whales tried to offer the prey again if people ignored or returned it. In two cases, orcas even retrieved birds after rejection, only to offer them again.

This behavior goes beyond simple play, although playful elements were observed in 38% of interactions. Researchers argue that most cases weren’t playful, as orcas of various ages presented whole, fresh prey. Moreover, in more than 75% of ignored cases, the orcas later used the prey for themselves or their group, indicating the value and intentionality of their offerings. Most likely, the motivation was curiosity — similar to how animals explore to reduce uncertainty. By offering food to humans, orcas are likely learning how we respond to them, much like they do with unfamiliar members of their own species.

Such actions point to the exceptionally advanced social intelligence of orcas. Some whales repeatedly offered the same item, while others acted in pairs or small groups. Importantly, most of the 34 events involved a single whale separating from a larger group, suggesting individual decisions to interact rather than “show-off” behavior. Interestingly, orcas have previously been documented cooperating with human fishers. The authors suggest that this historical cooperation may influence modern interactions, especially as human activity increases near their habitats.

Orcas, which rank second only to humans in brain-to-body size ratio, display highly developed emotional and social behaviors, including complex social learning, reciprocity, and possibly even empathy. “Offering things to humans may simultaneously allow orcas to practice learned cultural behavior, explore or play, and thus learn about us, manipulate us, or develop relationships with us,” the researchers note.

Despite the remarkable nature of these encounters, scientists urge caution. Orcas can exhibit complex and sometimes unpredictable behavior. Although no wild orca has ever killed a human, some interactions were quite intense, so researchers warn against seeking out such encounters or encouraging this behavior without proper authorization. It’s worth noting that most of these whales belonged to populations that hunt near the surface and often share prey, distinguishing them from deep-diving populations that hunt only fish. This suggests that cooperative surface hunting may promote more frequent and visible interspecies interactions.

These findings challenge our assumptions about the relationships between humans and animals. If orcas are experimenting with ways to interact with us, it means they recognize us not as threats, but as potential social partners. These whales are not just predators — they are thinkers, observers, and perhaps explorers of culture, curiosity, memory, learning, and emotion. Their actions are a vivid testament to the complex minds of both whales and humans — capable of choice, empathy, and communication. The study was published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology.