The fact that humpback whales create bubble nets to trap krill has been known for a while. However, researchers at the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP) at UH Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) and Alaska Whale Foundation (AWF) made a new and exciting discovery.

Humpback whales not only create bubble nets, but they blow bubbles in patterns that have internal rings. They determine the number of rings, the size and depth of the net and even the spacing between the bubbles. By doing this they can catch up to seven times more krill in one feeding, thus allowing them to eat more and expend less energy.

This discovery has included humpback whales in a small group of animals that can both make and use their own tools for hunting.  

Sue’s Note: Consider the cognitive process each whale must use to determine how to create their bubble net. Each new discovery such as this one makes a person wonder how many other animals are not given credit for their intelligence and abilities.

Journal Reference:

A. Szabo, L. Bejder, H. Warick, M. van Aswegen, A. S. Friedlaender, J. Goldbogen, J. M. Kendall-Bar, E. M. Leunissen, M. Angot and W. T. Gough. Solitary humpback whales manufacture bubble-nets as tools to increase prey intake. Royal Society Open Science, 2024 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.240328

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Cite This Page:

University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Humpbacks are among animals who manufacture and wield tools.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 August 2024. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240820221814.htm>.