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• They say all fashion trends eventually come back around.
Science Alert reported that orcas off the West Coast of North America have started wearing salmon as hats -- again.
The fad was first noticed in 1987 in Puget Sound, when orcas started balancing dead fish on their noses.
Scientists believe they may be storing the food for later or "showing off," or it may just feel good.
Humpback whales, for example, have been known to wear hats of seaweed.
"Honestly, your guess is as good as mine," said Deborah Giles, science and research director at Wild Orca.
With further study, "we may be able to gather enough information to show that, for instance, one carried a fish hat for 30 minutes or so, and then he ate it." [Science Alert, 12/3/2024]