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Narwhals play and forage using their amazing tusks

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Wednesday, March 12, 2025

This video shows narwhals in the Canadian High Arctic. It is a compilation of several drone footage clips. Some of the clips show Arctic char (shown in yellow circles for clarity) as the narwhals pursue them. The clips also show glaucous gulls stealing some of the fish from the whales. Video via O’Corry-Crowe, FAU / Watt, DFO. Narwhals use their tusks for various purposes, including foraging, exploration and play. Drone footage has revealed that narwhals use their tusks with agility to target prey like Arctic char and engage in social behaviors. Drones provide researchers with valuable insights into narwhal behavior, offering a non-invasive way to study them. New drone footage of narwhals reveal more about their lives Narwhals, whales with a long tusk, seem like otherworldly creatures. We don’t know much about these elusive whales because they live in remote parts of the Arctic, making them hard to observe. As a result, there’s been much debate about how they use their tusks. On February 28, 2025, a team of researchers said they’ve used drones to observe them from above, revealing new details about narwhal behavior. For instance, they learned narwhals use their tusks to go after prey like Arctic char and engage in play-like behavior. The researchers published their study in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Marine Science on February 28, 2025. Narwhals are the only whales with tusks Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) are known as unicorns of the sea. They live in the icy Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland and Russia. These whales are primarily fish-eaters, but they also consume cuttlefish, shrimp and squid. They’re one of the deepest divers among whales, able to reach depths of 7,780 feet (2,370 meters). The narwhal tusk is really an elongated spiral-shaped tooth that projects out of the left side of the whale’s upper jaw. It’s mostly males that have tusks that can grow up to 10 feet long. However, the researchers note in their paper that some females also grow tusks. That tusk length is pretty impressive considering the length of a narwhal body’s tops out at around 18 feet. Tusks grow continuously throughout a narwhal’s life. They are hollow and can weigh as much as 16 pounds (about 7 kilograms). And tusks have a lot of nerves running through them. So it also acts as an environmental sensor, detecting water temperature and salinity. The research team captured drone video of these 3 narwhals in the Canadian Arctic. Image via O’Corry-Crowe, FAU / Watt, DFO. What the scientists saw in the drone footage Scientists have long wondered how narwhals use their tusks. Greg O’Corry-Crowe is part of the research team that used drones to observe narwhals in Canada’s High Arctic during the summer of 2022. O’Corry-Crowe said: Narwhals are known for their ‘tusking’ behavior, where two or more of them simultaneously raise their tusks almost vertically out of the water, crossing them in what may be a ritualistic behavior to assess a potential opponent’s qualities or to display those qualities to potential mates. But now we know that narwhal tusks have other uses, some quite unexpected, including foraging, exploration and play. According to the researchers, drone footage revealed that narwhals wielded their tusks with great agility, accuracy and speed. They often used their tusks to investigate and target their prey, such as Arctic char. The researchers saw some using their tusks to stun or kill fish. Scientists also observed that opportunistic glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus) sometimes stole fish near the ocean surface that the narwhals were chasing. O’Corry-Crowe remarked: Our observations provide clear evidence of narwhals chasing fish and using their tusks to interact directly with the fish and to influence the fish’s behavior. Some of the interactions we saw appeared competitive in nature with one whale blocking or trying to block another whale’s access to the same target fish, while others may have been more subtle, possibly communicative and even affiliative. None appeared overtly aggressive. The researchers also observed narwhals use their tusks to engage in play-like behavior, such as exploring objects like fish. Plus, some of the observed behaviors suggest social learning (learning from other narwhals), and maybe even distinct personality traits in individuals. Using drones to study narwhals Co-author Cortney Watt of Fisheries and Oceans Canada commented: I have been studying narwhals for over a decade and have always marveled at their tusks. To observe them using their tusks for foraging and play is remarkable. This unique study where we set up a remote field camp and spent time filming them with drones is yielding many interesting insights and is providing a bird’s eye view of their behavior that we have never seen before. The whales appeared to be learning from each other. This trait could help them adapt to changes in the Arctic environment due to climate change. O’Corry-Crow added: To understand how narwhals are being affected by and adapting to the changing Arctic, field studies using innovative, non-invasive tools like drones are essential to observe them in their natural environment without disturbing them. Drones provide a unique, real-time view of their behavior, helping scientists gather crucial data on how narwhals are responding to shifts in ice patterns, prey availability and other environmental changes. Such studies are key to understanding the impact of global warming on these elusive animals. Bottom line: Scientists observing narwhals with drones in the Arctic found these whales use their tusks to go after fish and engage in play-like behavior. Source: Use of tusks by narwhals, Monodon monoceros, in foraging, exploratory, and play behavior Via Florida Atlantic University Read more: Meet the narwhal, ‘unicorn of the sea’The post Narwhals play and forage using their amazing tusks first appeared on EarthSky.

Scientists observing narwhals with drones in the Arctic found these whales use their tusks to go after fish and engage in play-like behavior. The post Narwhals play and forage using their amazing tusks first appeared on EarthSky.


This video shows narwhals in the Canadian High Arctic. It is a compilation of several drone footage clips. Some of the clips show Arctic char (shown in yellow circles for clarity) as the narwhals pursue them. The clips also show glaucous gulls stealing some of the fish from the whales. Video via O’Corry-Crowe, FAU / Watt, DFO.

  • Narwhals use their tusks for various purposes, including foraging, exploration and play.
  • Drone footage has revealed that narwhals use their tusks with agility to target prey like Arctic char and engage in social behaviors.
  • Drones provide researchers with valuable insights into narwhal behavior, offering a non-invasive way to study them.

    • New drone footage of narwhals reveal more about their lives

    Narwhals, whales with a long tusk, seem like otherworldly creatures. We don’t know much about these elusive whales because they live in remote parts of the Arctic, making them hard to observe. As a result, there’s been much debate about how they use their tusks. On February 28, 2025, a team of researchers said they’ve used drones to observe them from above, revealing new details about narwhal behavior. For instance, they learned narwhals use their tusks to go after prey like Arctic char and engage in play-like behavior.

    The researchers published their study in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Marine Science on February 28, 2025.

    Narwhals are the only whales with tusks

    Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) are known as unicorns of the sea. They live in the icy Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland and Russia. These whales are primarily fish-eaters, but they also consume cuttlefish, shrimp and squid. They’re one of the deepest divers among whales, able to reach depths of 7,780 feet (2,370 meters).

    The narwhal tusk is really an elongated spiral-shaped tooth that projects out of the left side of the whale’s upper jaw. It’s mostly males that have tusks that can grow up to 10 feet long. However, the researchers note in their paper that some females also grow tusks. That tusk length is pretty impressive considering the length of a narwhal body’s tops out at around 18 feet.

    Tusks grow continuously throughout a narwhal’s life. They are hollow and can weigh as much as 16 pounds (about 7 kilograms). And tusks have a lot of nerves running through them. So it also acts as an environmental sensor, detecting water temperature and salinity.

    Three narwhals, mottled black and white, with long tusk emerging from the front of their faces.
    The research team captured drone video of these 3 narwhals in the Canadian Arctic. Image via O’Corry-Crowe, FAU / Watt, DFO.

    What the scientists saw in the drone footage

    Scientists have long wondered how narwhals use their tusks. Greg O’Corry-Crowe is part of the research team that used drones to observe narwhals in Canada’s High Arctic during the summer of 2022. O’Corry-Crowe said:

    Narwhals are known for their ‘tusking’ behavior, where two or more of them simultaneously raise their tusks almost vertically out of the water, crossing them in what may be a ritualistic behavior to assess a potential opponent’s qualities or to display those qualities to potential mates. But now we know that narwhal tusks have other uses, some quite unexpected, including foraging, exploration and play.

    According to the researchers, drone footage revealed that narwhals wielded their tusks with great agility, accuracy and speed. They often used their tusks to investigate and target their prey, such as Arctic char. The researchers saw some using their tusks to stun or kill fish. Scientists also observed that opportunistic glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus) sometimes stole fish near the ocean surface that the narwhals were chasing.

    O’Corry-Crowe remarked:

    Our observations provide clear evidence of narwhals chasing fish and using their tusks to interact directly with the fish and to influence the fish’s behavior. Some of the interactions we saw appeared competitive in nature with one whale blocking or trying to block another whale’s access to the same target fish, while others may have been more subtle, possibly communicative and even affiliative. None appeared overtly aggressive.

    The researchers also observed narwhals use their tusks to engage in play-like behavior, such as exploring objects like fish. Plus, some of the observed behaviors suggest social learning (learning from other narwhals), and maybe even distinct personality traits in individuals.

    Using drones to study narwhals

    Co-author Cortney Watt of Fisheries and Oceans Canada commented:

    I have been studying narwhals for over a decade and have always marveled at their tusks. To observe them using their tusks for foraging and play is remarkable. This unique study where we set up a remote field camp and spent time filming them with drones is yielding many interesting insights and is providing a bird’s eye view of their behavior that we have never seen before.

    The whales appeared to be learning from each other. This trait could help them adapt to changes in the Arctic environment due to climate change. O’Corry-Crow added:

    To understand how narwhals are being affected by and adapting to the changing Arctic, field studies using innovative, non-invasive tools like drones are essential to observe them in their natural environment without disturbing them. Drones provide a unique, real-time view of their behavior, helping scientists gather crucial data on how narwhals are responding to shifts in ice patterns, prey availability and other environmental changes. Such studies are key to understanding the impact of global warming on these elusive animals.

    Bottom line: Scientists observing narwhals with drones in the Arctic found these whales use their tusks to go after fish and engage in play-like behavior.

    Source: Use of tusks by narwhals, Monodon monoceros, in foraging, exploratory, and play behavior

    Via Florida Atlantic University

    Read more: Meet the narwhal, ‘unicorn of the sea’

    The post Narwhals play and forage using their amazing tusks first appeared on EarthSky.

    Read the full story here.
    Photos courtesy of

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    Nature

    Saving Jaguars and Ourselves

    "Saving Jaguars and Ourselves" brings attention to the plight of jaguars, wildlife, the Pantanal in Brazil AND the Amazon Rainforest and Cerrado Savannah. The film combines intimate human conversations and portrayals of jaguars in the Pantanal with clear explanations of larger threats that expand to include the Amazon, Cerrado, and the U.S.—focusing on ways that individuals in the U.S. can act effectively to bring change. These three areas form a critical Triad for preventing global climate change. My film explains why this Triad is crucial--why OUR survival in the U.S. depends on its recovery--and what we must do to literally save it, jaguars/wildlife, and Earth. The Pantanal wetland is larger than Florida and stores at least 10 billion tons of carbon. The Cerrado stores at least 13 billion tons. The Amazon stores 200 billion tons. If ANY of these areas completely burns, the carbon releases would be catastrophic. The Amazon and Pantanal are paradises. The Pantanal is directly affected by destruction of the Amazon and Cerrado savannah. Scientists believe that 80% of the Amazon Rainforest must be protected by 2025 or it will not be able to regenerate itself. The Amazon creates its own weather but if deforestation continues, its ecosystem will die and dying trees will give off as much as 200 billion tons of carbon over the next 30-50 years, effectively destroying our ability to protect the climate--and the Earth will die. The Pantanal is one of the most unique and beautiful places in the world, home to over 5,000 animal species and is now also facing threats from upstream river projects.

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    Animals
    Climate

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