Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa have described a remarkable behavior in humpback whales: these ocean giants may create and use tools. The findings, reported in the journal Royal Society Open Science, add a new dimension to our understanding of whale intelligence and problem-solving in the wild. The study emphasizes not merely instinct but observed, repeatable actions that suggest intentional tool use by humpbacks in their natural habitat. This is a milestone that invites a broader look at how marine mammals navigate challenges in offshore ecosystems.
Observations conducted with suction cup sensors and underwater drones near Alaska reveal that humpback whales release air bubbles in a deliberate, patterned fashion. The resulting formations resemble a protective barrier or a net and are employed as a strategic tool rather than a random byproduct of respiration or movement. By directing bubbles into organized structures, the whales appear to modify their immediate environment to aid feeding. These insights come from long-term fieldwork that tracks behavior in northern Pacific waters.
In a sequence of controlled, repeated actions, the whales manipulate the bubble nets to control precise attributes such as the number of rings, their diameter, and the spacing between successive layers. This refined control enables the creation of an enclosure that narrows the field of vision for small crustaceans, like krill, which constitute the staple of the humpbacks’ winter diet. The technique demonstrates a level of behavioral planning and spatial reasoning that researchers are only beginning to quantify in baleen whales.
Data from the study indicate that employing bubble nets substantially boosts prey capture, with some dives yielding nearly seven times more prey items without the whales increasing their energy expenditure. This efficiency gain suggests a deliberate energy-conserving strategy that aligns with the whales’ migratory lifestyle and feeding ecology. The researchers note that such optimization could be a key factor in sustaining long-distance movements between feeding grounds in Alaska and breeding sites in other parts of the Pacific.
Experts say these findings shed light on how humpbacks manage energy budgets across seasonal migrations. The use of bubble nets appears integrated into a broader pattern of survival strategies that support the coastal ecosystems where these mammals thrive. Understanding this behavior helps explain how humpbacks allocate effort during feeding bouts and how they time their movements to match prey availability along their migratory routes.
Earlier observations suggested that humpback whales experienced a respite from human-induced stress during the Covid-19 period, with some reports noting perceived changes in behavior and movement patterns as human activity waned. While the science on these claims remains nuanced, researchers stress that long-term monitoring will clarify how short-term disturbances interact with natural feeding strategies and migration schedules.