Drone Footage Shows Even Killer Whales Have Close 'Friends' - ScienceAlert

Drone footage has captured the social lives of southern resident killer whales like never before, and their friendships look surprisingly similar to our own.

Tracking a single pod of 22 killer whales for 10 days, researchers observed a complex web of relationships, including close friendships.

"In many species, including humans, physical contact tends to be a soothing, stress-relieving activity that reinforces social connection," he explains.

"This apparent similarity between primate and killer whale social life history is particularly interesting given the convergent reproductive life histories in killer whales and humans," the authors write.

More research is needed among other killer whale pods to confirm these results, especially since no one has noticed age and sex influencing killer whale relationships before.