The study, conducted by researchers from Canada, New Zealand, and Mexico, has shed light on an intriguing phenomenon: killer whales in the wild have been observed sharing fish with humans over two decades. The research team analyzed 34 interactions, where orcas approached people in various settings, including boats, shorelines, and even while they were swimming in the water.

Lead author Jared Towers explained that orcas often share food with each other as a prosocial activity to build relationships within their social groups. Now, it seems they may also extend this behavior to humans, indicating an interest in relating to us as well.

The research was published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology and involved collecting information from various sources, including videos, photos, and interviews with people who had experienced these interactions. The incidents were carefully selected based on strict criteria: the orcas had to approach the people on their own and drop the item in front of them.

Some remarkable patterns emerged from this research. In most cases (21 out of 34), the encounters took place while people were on boats. On only one occasion did an orca attempt to offer food to someone standing on the shore. Notably, in many instances (11 times), the orcas waited to see what would happen after they made their offering, and some even tried again when their gift was initially refused.

This behavior bears resemblance to that of domesticated animals like dogs and cats, which sometimes share food with humans. However, this research marks one of the first detailed descriptions of similar behavior in non-domesticated animals.

The researchers suggest several possible explanations for this phenomenon: orcas may be practicing learned cultural behavior, exploring, playing, learning about, manipulating, or developing relationships with humans. Given their advanced cognitive abilities and social nature, these outcomes are considered plausible.

This groundbreaking study opens new avenues of inquiry into the fascinating world of killer whales.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a significant shift in human behavior, with people forced to spend more time indoors and away from social interactions. During this period, there was an increase in pet adoption, leading many to believe that having a companion animal would provide a sense of comfort, companionship, and happiness. However, a recent study has challenged this notion, suggesting that the emotional benefits of pet ownership may not be as universal or significant as previously thought.

The study, conducted by researchers at ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, involved data collection from almost 3,000 people across Hungary during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns. The participants were surveyed three times, with some acquiring a new pet and others losing one during this period. The results showed little support for the idea that pet ownership provides a significant boost to emotional well-being.

While there was a short-term increase in cheerfulness after acquiring a dog, this effect did not last long-term, with dog owners experiencing decreased calmness, life-satisfaction, and activity over time. Perhaps most surprisingly, the study found that losing a pet had no significant impact on the well-being of its former owners.

The researchers suggested that the dynamics of the pandemic may have led people to make impulsive choices against their long-term interest, or that only certain groups, such as devoted animal lovers or older adults living alone, truly benefit from pets in stressful times. The study’s findings highlight the importance of considering individual differences and circumstances when evaluating the emotional benefits of pet ownership.

Ultimately, the myth of the “pet effect” may be just that – a myth. While companion animals can undoubtedly bring joy and companionship to some people, it is essential to recognize that this experience is not universal and may not be as emotionally transformative as we like to believe.

The Tumat Puppies, two remarkably well-preserved puppy remains found in northern Siberia, have shed new light on the evolution of wolves. The genetic analysis of their remains has revealed that they are most likely wolves, and not related to domestic dogs as previously suggested.

The puppies were discovered in layers of soil, preserved in ice, alongside the bones of woolly mammoths, some of which showed signs of having been burned and processed by humans. This led scientists to wonder if the site was once used by humans to butcher mammoths, and whether the puppies might have had a connection to people, possibly as early dogs or tamed wolves that hung around humans for food.

However, a new study has shown that based on genetic data from the animals’ gut contents and other chemical ‘fingerprints’ found in their bones, teeth, and tissue, that the way they were living, what they were eating, and the environment they existed in, points to the puppies being wolf cubs and not early domesticated dogs.

The research findings suggest that these Pleistocene wolves may have been somewhat bigger than the wolves of today. The “Tumat Puppies” challenge the original hypothesis that they belonged to a dog population that eventually died out and didn’t lead to today’s domestic dogs.

Anne Kathrine Runge, from the University of York’s Department of Archaeology, said: “It was incredible to find two sisters from this era so well preserved, but even more incredible that we can now tell so much of their story, down to the last meal that they ate.”

The research has also provided insights into the environment and ecosystems of the time. The cubs’ stomachs contained tiny fossilized plant remains, indicating a diverse landscape with varied habitats, including prairie grasses, leaves from the shrub genus Dryas, and willow twigs.

Dr Nathan Wales, from the University of York’s Department of Archaeology, said: “We know grey wolves have been around as a species for hundreds of thousands of years based on skeletal remains from palaeontological sites. The soft tissues preserved in the Tumat Puppies gives us access to other ways of investigating wolves and their evolutionary line.”

The research findings, however, means that the hunt for the oldest dog — and their place of origin — is still on.