Humpback whales have been observed blowing giant bubble rings underwater, leading researchers to believe that this behavior might be a way of communicating with humans who are watching them.

These whales are known for using spiral bubble nets for hunting, but the purpose of different types of bubbles varies among whale species. Some bubbles are playful, some are frisky, and some are aggressive.

The specific type of bubble-blowing seen in the study involved creating perfect circles, resembling doughnut-shaped clouds described as giant smoke rings rising rapidly to the surface.

An international team of biologists and photographers analyzed videos and photos of humpback whales producing bubble rings from various perspectives, including underwater, from boats, planes, and drones.

This diverse range of sources helps provide context for understanding why the whales create these bubble rings and whether they are attempting to communicate with humans.

The researchers documented a total of 39 bubble rings produced by 11 different humpback whales in 12 separate instances. Most of these episodes occurred near boats or human swimmers, with multiple whales present in some cases.

Surprisingly, despite the close proximity to humans, there was no evidence of aggression from the whales towards people or other whales during the bubble ring production. In fact, many of the whales approached the boats or swimmers, except when they were feeding.

Whales of various species have been observed exhibiting playful and friendly behavior near vessels, which could suggest intentional interaction with humans. Blowing bubbles may be another form of communication and engagement between whales and humans.

While the idea of whales communicating with humans is intriguing, more research is needed to understand the true purpose behind these bubble rings and whether they are indeed intended for human observers.

The study emphasizes the importance of continued observation to uncover the frequency and significance of bubble rings in humpback whale behavior, potentially shedding light on their capacity for interspecies communication.

The research is published in Marine Mammal Science.

Source: ScienceAlert