Researchers are witnessing an old trend among orcas returning after about four decades. The aquatic animals belonging to the dolphin family are seen wearing salmon fish hats in the Northwest Pacific, off the coast of Washington. The bizarre trend involves these animals wearing dead fish on their heads, and the exact reason behind this fashion trend is still unclear.
According to Live Science, the trend of donning such bizarre headgear began in the summer of 1987. A female West Coast orca was spotted wearing a dead fish on her head, and the rest of the community picked up this behavior. According to ORCA, a marine conservation charity, several orcas were spotted following the trend, which lasted about a year.
While the reason behind these mammals wearing salmon hats is unknown, Andrew Foote, an ecologist at the University of Oslo, told New Scientist that the veterans of the orca community might have brought back the trend.
"It does seem possible that some individuals that experienced [the behavior] the first time around may have started it again," he said.
Is wearing a headgear of dead fish a fashion trend among orcas?
Researchers are also wondering if the salmon hat trend is related to the high availability of food among orcas. According to the portal's report, South Puget Sound currently has a large population of salmon fish, making them easily available for larger fish.
They believe that the cetaceans may be saving the fish to have it later. Deborah Giles, a researcher at the University of Washington, mentioned that whales are known for stashing their food.
"We've seen mammal-eating killer whales carry large chunks of food under their pectoral fin, kind of tucked in next to their body."
These cetaceans may be carrying salmon on their heads because they are too small to store beneath the fin.
However, the food availability theory may turn out to be wrong if these dolphins drop the salmon without eating them. Researchers are expected to gather more information about this unusual trend as they are monitoring the community with drones.
"Over time, we may be able to gather enough information to show that, for instance, one carried a fish for 30 minutes or so, and then he ate it, Giles reported.
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Some researchers also believe the salmon hats trend may be a "fad."
More information about this bizarre trend among orcas is awaited.
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