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Orca says hello and goodbye
A 14-year-old killer whale named Wikie has amazed researchers by imitating human words such as “hello” and “goodbye.”
The feat, highlighted by CBS News, shows the orca’s remarkable ability to reproduce unfamiliar sounds, even though her vocal anatomy is vastly different from a human’s.
Trained to mimic noises from her calf and later human speech, Wikie successfully repeated several sounds and words on her first try. Scientists emphasize, however, that there is no evidence she understands their meaning.
In the wild, orcas are known for their complex communication and regional “accents.” Wikie’s vocal mimicry underscores the species’ extraordinary intelligence and flexibility.
Although the experiment was first published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B in 2018, renewed interest has surged after videos of Wikie’s “talking” resurfaced online, sparking fascination and amusement among viewers.
Read our article about swimming with orcas
