Killer whales trail dolphins and feed on salmon pieces while dolphins take advantage of the prey, suggesting possible cooperation or coordinated hunting.

Experts say more research is needed to determine the consistency, drivers, and ecological significance of these interspecies foraging interactions.

The study is a multi-institution collaboration involving the University of British Columbia, the Leibniz Institute, and the Hakai Institute, with Dalhousie University marine scientist Sarah Fortune as lead author.

The article highlights the importance of updated understanding of marine mammal behavior in light of climate-related changes to the British Columbia coast.

The nine northern resident orcas were studied using movement data, underwater footage, acoustic recordings, and aerial drone observations collected in August 2020.

Researchers logged 258 unique dolphin-orca interactions and documented the behavior as a collaborative foraging partnership through underwater tags, satellite data, and drone footage.

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The study spotlights potential interspecies cooperation as a factor in predator-prey interactions along coastal British Columbia and calls for more observation to understand stability and ecological impact.

Published in Scientific Reports on December 11, 2025, the study underscores a collaborative approach to observing interspecies foraging.

Fortune and colleagues describe this as behavioral coordination within the northern resident population, though it has not met the stricter criteria for mutualism where both species benefit.

The findings raise broader questions about interspecies cooperation in marine foraging and its ecological implications for both predator groups.

Changing ocean conditions and prey availability may affect social and foraging behaviors in marine mammals, warranting further research into the prevalence and significance of such collaborations.