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Start for freeAn Unprecedented Partnership Between Apex Predators
The relationship between humans and orcas, two of the world's top apex predators, is complex and filled with awe, fear, and historical cooperation. Recent incidents of orcas attacking boats have highlighted the tension between these intelligent creatures and humans. However, there was a time when humans and orcas didn't capture, kill, or fear each other; they worked together in a remarkable act of cooperation to hunt some of the largest creatures in the ocean: humpback and Southern right whales. This story of unimaginable collaboration offers a glimpse into what happens when trust is broken, and sacred pacts are abandoned.
The Eden Whaling Operation: A Story of Mutual Benefit
In the deep waters off the eastern coast of Australia, the Southern right whales and humpbacks swim by during their annual migrations. The orcas in this region learned these migration patterns and would lie in wait for migrating baleen whales, trapping and devouring them in the confined waters of Twofold Bay. For thousands of years, the Aboriginal people of this area, the Yuin Nation, revered these orcas, linking the people with the whales in many of their beliefs. When Europeans arrived in the 19th century, they encountered a well-established tradition of orca and human cooperation in whaling, particularly with the Davidson family, who set up a whaling station on Twofold Bay.
The Law of the Tongue
The settlers learned from the Aboriginal people to work with the orcas instead of hunting them. When orcas found a whale and herded it into the bay, one would alert the humans by slapping its tail on the water. Men would then race out in rowboats, equipped with harpoons, to take down their prey alongside the orcas. After the hunt, the orcas would eat the lips and tongue of the baleen whales, leaving the rest for humans. This exchange was known as the Law of the Tongue and continued for decades, showcasing a rare example of carnivores working together for mutual benefit.
The Intelligence and Adaptability of Orcas
Orcas possess the second-largest brain in the animal kingdom and exhibit high social behavior, wide repertoire of sounds, and distinct cultures within their pods. Their adaptive hunting ability allows them to develop different hunting methods and prey on a variety of creatures. Their large brains and dietary flexibility made them perfectly poised to collaborate with human whale hunters for their mutual benefit.
The Untimely End of a Historic Cooperation
Unfortunately, the partnership between orcas and humans was doomed to an untimely end. By the early 1900s, baleen whale populations had plummeted due to extensive hunting by humans around the world, leading to fewer opportunities for cooperation. The incident with George Davidson, John Logan, and Old Tom, a well-known orca partner, marked a significant moment of betrayal that possibly contributed to the end of this unique alliance. Old Tom's death, with missing teeth turned into abscesses and an empty stomach, symbolized the broken pact between humans and orcas.
Lessons from the Past and Hope for the Future
The story of the Eden orcas and their cooperation with humans is a poignant reminder of the potential for interspecies collaboration and the tragic consequences of human greed and betrayal. While whaling has been outlawed, and the Eden whaling operation shut down, recent sightings of orcas around Twofold Bay may signal a willingness to forgive, even if the circumstances for cooperation have changed. This historical account underscores the need for a respectful and sustainable relationship with the natural world, highlighting the remarkable capabilities of orcas and the profound impact of human actions on wildlife.
For more insights into the fascinating world of orcas and their interactions with humans, visit the original video here.
