Behaviors: Special
Some of the behaviors that we have witnessed while studying sperm whales can only be described as extraordinary. One especially captivating observation was that of a calf playing with a makeshift organic toy. We have also documented compelling behavior that appears to indicate recognition of us as individuals by the whales.
These special behaviors share a common characteristic. At risk of anthropomorphizing, we believe that the activities were performed with discernible expressions of joy. We invite you to form your own conclusions as you review the images and videos of these encounters.
Soursop and her calf were swimming parallel along the surface when suddenly Ariel veered away, stopped abruptly, and began splashing and swishing her body from side to side. We finned closer to discover that she had found a coconut fragment floating on the surface which she immediately turned into a makeshift toy.
The fragment was so small that it seemed unlikely she had seen it from a distance. Instead we surmised that she had detected the curious object through her echolocation ability and intentionally redirected her path to intercept it.
We watched in awe as Ariel playfully attempted to capture the fragment in her mouth, athletically spinning and twirling her body as she chased the elusive toy in the choppy sea. She opened her mouth to catch it and snapped her jaw shut only to cause water pressure to eject the buoyant coconut.
Ariel’s lively body language conveyed that she clearly enjoyed the pick-up game. She appeared to welcome the attention of onlookers who admired her perseverance and mentally cheered her on. To our collective delight, she eventually succeeded in her quest and proudly swam away with the prize in her mouth.
There were a number aspects of the encounter that we found impressive. Ariel displayed a remarkable capacity for focused attention as she engaged in a fun, all-encompassing game. The young calf demonstrated ingenuity by creating a tool for recreational use, and she exercised phenomenal physical control as she friskily played without bumping into observers who were in close proximity. She was keenly aware of her audience and reveled in the appreciation she received as result of her entertaining behavior.
The ‘coconut game’ is a rare occurrence and we were extremely fortunate to witness this special performance. The encounter deepened our appreciation of Ariel and provided insights into the intellect, fun-loving spirit, and evolved consciousness of her species.
Rap’s Spontaneous Visit, Dec 3 2018
We met and spent a considerable amount of time with whales from Unit R during our 2016 field session. Rap, who was a juvenile at the time, was particularly bold, curious and socially engaging. She would repeatedly approach us to sonar-scan observers and then flip on her back to swim underneath with her stomach exposed. She investigated our camera with fascination, exuberantly lobbed her tail, and displayed a variety of other friendly, interactive behaviors.
The following year we did not see whales from Unit R, but we observed them again in 2018. We located the group three miles offshore traveling north towards the Atlantic Ocean. Despite the fact that her family was on the move, Rap paused and made a 180 degree turn to engage with us before rejoining her unit. When we entered the water, she swam directly towards us with her belly up displaying joyful, animated behavior.
After the deliberate greeting, Rap assumed a vertical, head-down position to tail lob within a measured distance from us. She then turned to face us, opening and closing her mouth as she swung her head from side-to-side while creaking and clicking. We noted that the front of her bulbous nose was covered with a series of white horizontal lacerations. The wounds appeared to be healing and did not impact her cheerful demeanor.
Rap continued circling our group, pirouetting underneath to face us as she repeated the lively head motions and opened her mouth to show us her tongue. She then serenely floated in place for several moments before leisurely swimming alongside observers, intentionally making eye contact with each snorkeler before departing to catch up with her social group.
We recognized many of Rap’s antics from our previous encounter with her two years prior to this exchange, and were pleased to see that her ebullient personality had remained constant. There is no discernable way to know whether she had recognized us, but she definitely felt comfortable and confident enough to initiate another intimate encounter.
One morning during our 2019 field session our data collection had been limited to surface observation because the whales from Unit A were slowly but consistently traveling. We were preparing to leave the area to allow them privacy when Rounder and the social unit’s three calves turned to face our boat and stopped to log at the surface.
We entered the water and tentatively approached the logging whales, coming to a stop about 10 feet from them. The calves were lined up in a row, with Rounder acting as a bookend. As we floated in place, all three calves drew closer, creaking and clicking loudly as they inched towards us, face to face. Ariel was the most enthusiastic and vocal, Accra was amusingly animated, and Aurora was slightly more reserved.
After thoroughly scanning us for several minutes, the young whales turned and began to swim away with their mouths slightly open. I kept filming as they departed and was about to turn off the camera when Aurora suddenly braked and whirled around while rolling onto her back. She spun to face us, blew a burst of bubbles, paused to open her mouth wider, and casually swam to join Rounder and the other calves.
Aurora’s demeanor was relaxed and friendly as she purposely maneuvered to capture our attention for a brief greeting. It was as though she desired a personal audience so as not to be outdone by her younger and more sociable companions.
