Why orcas wear dead salmon as ‘hats’ remains a mystery, scientists say [Video]

In what may seem like a call-back to 1980s whale culture, a resident orca off the coast of Washington state was recently spotted sporting a dead salmon on its head. 

The phenomenon was first documented in 1987 when whales from three separate pods were seen wearing salmon on their heads, like a human wears a hat.

But scientists never understood why, and experts are still scratching their heads as they contemplate the most recent incident, documented in October. 

The director of the University of British Columbia’s Marine Mammal Research Unit, Andrew Trites, said there’s no obvious reason for the behaviour.

“Maybe it’s to impress another member [of the pod],” he told CBC Radio West guest host Brady Strachan. “Maybe they just like the smell of dead fish.”

Orcas off the coast of BC have been seen wearing dead salmon on their heads like hats

But he and his colleagues suspect it’s playfulness.

“It’s probably being done by young animals and …