Humpback Whales Master 'Bubble Net' Tool for Hunting
Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the Alaska Whale Foundation have found that humpback whales in Southeast Alaska use sophisticated hunting techniques involving the creation and manipulation of "bubble nets" to capture krill. This behavior places humpback whales among the rare group of animals known to manufacture and use tools. Using non-invasive suction-cup tags and drones, scientists observed that these whales can control the number, depth, and spacing of bubbles, enabling them to trap up to seven times more prey in a single feeding dive without expending additional energy.
The study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, offers valuable insights into the whales' feeding strategies and energy conservation methods, which are crucial for their long migrations from Alaska to the Hawaiian Islands. The findings provide a better understanding of how these whales manage to accumulate the necessary calories to travel thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean. Researchers hope this discovery will aid in developing effective conservation strategies to protect these and other cetacean species, many of which face significant extinction risks.
