Sperm Whales Headbutt in Drone-Captured Footage

0:00It's March 23rd. This is Cindy News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the Story. Scientists have captured the first verified drone footage of sperm whales headbutting each other. The videos show young males ramming heads or bodies with varying force, including one instance where a juvenile male collided with a small female off. Spain's Balearic Islands in 2022. In the Azores Islands, two more clips reveal head-on clashes between whales of unknown sex, along with pattern-clicking sounds. Researchers from teams in St. Andrews, the Azores, and elsewhere piece these together for a study in marine mammal science. Experts not involved, call it likely, rough play common in young social mammals, possibly helping juveniles learn before leaving matriarch-led groups. One biologist notes, tour boats with drones might spot it too, but this is the first scientific report. The massive heads, up to 40% of body length, have soft tissue in oil-filled organs protecting the brain from serious harm.

1:01While impressive, these strikes among juveniles don't seem aimed at mating competition. More observations of older males are crucial to unravel why they do this, and if it links to tails like the 1820 Essex sinking that inspired. Moby Dick, confirming sperm whales can strike ships with real force.