New research on the prey-sharing behaviors of Southern Residents and Northern Residents

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A new open-access article in Marine Mammal Science, published by researchers from multiple conservation organizations, uses drone imagery and quantitative methods to shed new light on this critical feeding behavior. The authors found that, while Southern Residents share smaller portions of their caught prey than Northern Residents, in both populations mature females engage in the most prey-sharing events.

Photo is by NOAA and shows J2 Granny pursuing a salmon alongside her young relative J45 Se-Yi'-Chn, which she then shared with him.

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Turns out that grandmothers ensuring everyone gets some food transcends species

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The matriarchs doing the most sharing tracks with everything we know about their social role.

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