While cetaceans such as orca are known for their complex social structures, the acts of generosity they often display toward one-another can also extend outside their species to humans, as evidenced by encounters that, while still rare, appear to be attempts to interact with us by gifting people with food that they have caught. Although researchers are unsure as to what the underlying motive for these offerings is, there is a definite pattern to this behavior; however, the question remains: are they trying to manipulate us, teach us how to eat, or are they simply trying to reach out to us on a more personal level?

Many of these encounters are examined in a recent study titled Testing the Waters: Attempts by Wild Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) to Provision People (Homo sapiens), that documents 34 cases spanning two decades of orca approaching humans with what appeared to be offerings of dead prey.

These actions are similar to gift-giving behavior that is internal to orca culture that would typically be considered “prosocial activity and a way [to] build relationships with each other,” according to study lead Jared Towers, an ecologist at Canada’s Bay Cetology. “That they also share with humans may show their interest in relating to us as well.”

Formerly known as ‘killer whales’ due to their size and status as an apex predator, all but one of the gifts—an offering of kelp—involved offerings of 17 different animal species, including six different types of fish, five mammals, two jellyfish, two birds, one starfish, and a green turtle. Across the 34 cases, 21 involved orca approaching people while they were on boats, 11 that were in the water, and two instances at the shoreline.

In all but one case, the orca waited for a response from the human recipients before retreating, with about three-quarters of the gifts being retrieved before the orca left; to be fair, some of the offerings, that were as large as a gray whale or 350-kilogram (770-pound) South American sea lion, would be far too large for the average human to handle. This resulted, at least in part, in the humans not accepting the gifts in all but four of the interactions, something that appeared to disappoint the participating orca.

“Offering items to humans could simultaneously include opportunities for killer whales to practice learned cultural behavior, explore or play, and in so doing learn about, manipulate or develop relationships with us,” according to the study text. “Giving the advanced cognitive abilities and social, cooperative nature of this species, we assume that any or all of these explanations for, and outcomes of such behavior are possible.”