Killer whales seen grooming each other with kelp in first for marine tool use

[cbabe]

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/23/killer-whales-kelp-grooming-tool-use

Killer whales seen grooming each other with kelp in first for marine tool use

Behavior in orca population off coast of US and Canada captured by scientists using drone observation

Oliver Milman
Mon 23 Jun 2025 11.00 EDT

Killer whales have been observed mutually grooming each other with a type of seaweed, the first known instance of a marine animal using tools in a way that was previously thought to be the preserve of primates such as humans.

A group of killer whales, which are also known as orcas, have been biting off short sections of bull kelp and then rolling these stems between their bodies, possibly to remove dead skin or parasites. The behavior is the first such documented mutual grooming in marine animals and is outlined in a new scientific paper.

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[malaise]

1. The notion of dominion over all5(8;*# has made humans arrogant on steroids

We know very little about another species

[applegrove]

2. There have been lots of videos lately of humans rubbing whales

down to get barnacles and other parasites off them. I worry it is a novel threat to such majestic animals. Maybe they took a cue from humans and are trying to use a tool (kelp) to scrub themselves and their friends.

[mopinko]

3. 'previously thought'. um, yeah, like a couple decades ago.

corvids and other birds have been seen using tools for a pretty long time.