It’s often said that fashion is a circle, and who would’ve thought this applies not only to humans but also to the clever orcas? Last month, scientists and whale watchers spotted a remarkable scene in Puget Sound and near Point No Point in Washington. An orca was seen swimming through the ocean with a dead salmon balanced on its head.
This exciting discovery brought joy to scientists, as the last time such a sight was reported was in 1987. Back then, a female orca off the U.S. West Coast inexplicably placed a salmon on her head. People didn’t know why, but soon, every orca in the area followed suit. Within weeks, it became a trend—orca after orca proudly wore salmon hats.
However, just like fashion trends among humans, this orca “style” faded away. Within a year, the fish-hat craze was gone, with no orca interested in continuing this behavior. It was as if it had been a brief moment of oceanic chic. And just like that, the “salmon hats” disappeared by the summer of 1988. 
Why Are Orcas Wearing Salmon Hats?
Even now, no one knows exactly why orcas decided to wear salmon hats. Researchers from the University of Washington who study orcas have suggested that it’s anyone’s guess. Maybe it’s something they could never have predicted, and perhaps our guesses are just as valid as theirs.
This phenomenon remains mysterious, and similar puzzling behavior has been observed in orcas elsewhere. For example, since 2020, a group of orcas along the coast of Morocco has been attacking human ships, leading to over 670 recorded incidents. These orcas primarily target the rudders of ships, leaving them powerless and adrift at sea. In March of this year, they even sank a two-person yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar. At first, scientists were baffled by this aggressive behavior, but eventually, they realized that it was just another form of “fashion” among the orcas. One orca started destroying ship rudders for fun, and soon the others followed. This trend eventually faded, and now the orcas seem uninterested in attacking ships.
It seems that orcas engage in certain behaviors simply because they can, especially when food is abundant. With plenty to eat, they have more time to indulge in playful or social activities, which sometimes appear as quirky behaviors to us humans.
Orcas, Overfed and Playful
Scientists believe that the orca’s penchant for fashion and mischief may stem from an overabundance of food. With improved human environmental awareness, the oceans are seeing a resurgence in fish populations, and orcas are thriving. In this “food-rich” environment, orcas have the luxury of not only eating but also playing with their food. The hypothesis is that when orcas can’t finish their meals, they balance leftover fish on their heads. This idea makes sense, especially since orcas have been observed hiding large pieces of food beneath their pectoral fins. A salmon, being relatively small, would be hard to carry this way, so it might simply end up perched on their heads.
This theory may sound a bit far-fetched, but researchers now have better tools to test their hypotheses. Drones equipped with cameras can track orcas and their behavior in greater detail than in 1987. If an orca plays with a fish on its head for about 30 minutes before eating it, this would support the theory that orcas are simply playing around. However, if they don’t eat the fish afterward, it might suggest that younger orcas are mimicking the “fashion” trends set by older generations.
The Fascination with Orca Behavior
Regardless of the reasons behind this fascinating behavior, scientists are thrilled to witness such an event once again. Whether it’s an overindulgence in food or a quirky social trend, orcas prove themselves to be one of the most intelligent animals in the ocean.
