THIS is the astonishing moment a pair of orcas was spotted kissing – with tongues – for the first time ever in the wild.
The killer smooch was caught on camera by scientists during a snorkelling trip in northern Norway.
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The tender interaction between the two orcas – also known as killer whales – took place in the dramatic Kvænangen fjords, about 68 miles northeast of Tromsø.
In the nearly two-minute-long video, the orcas are seen engaging in three separate “kissing” episodes, lasting 10, 26 and 18 seconds each.
During these intimate moments, one orca extends its tongue while the other appears to gently mouth or nibble it.
After the final “kiss”, the highly intelligent mammals part ways and swim off in opposite directions.
In the paper published in the journal Oceans, researchers describe the two adult orcas as engaging in “repeated episodes of gentle, face-to-face oral contact”.
The snorkellers floated quietly and horizontally in the water – careful not to disturb the orcas – and filmed the interaction on a GoPro.
Scientists call this tactile interaction “tongue-nibbling”.
Study author Dr Javier Almunia told Live Science that “tongue-nibbling is exceptionally rare”, explaining that, until now, this behaviour had only been seen in orcas in human care.
While tongue-nibbling has not been recorded in other species, similar mouth-to-mouth contact has been spotted in belugas, according to Dr Almunia.
He added: “This behaviour appears to serve affiliative purposes and may play a role in reinforcing social bonds or resolving conflicts, akin to grooming or reconciliation behaviours in other highly social species.”
Mouth-to-mouth contact in orcas was previously recorded in 2013 at Loro Parque, a zoo on Tenerife.
During that observation, “one individual protruded its tongue while the other made gentle nibbling movements,” the study authors, Dr Almunia and colleagues, explain.
The zoo-keepers reported that tongue-nibbling behaviour had been noted in four individual orcas at the park.
Mouth-to-mouth contact was first documented in captive orcas in a 1978 study by Paul Spong and Ingrid Visser, who suggested it plays a role in maintaining social cohesion.
It comes as two pals on a fishing trip spotted what appeared to be a pod of killer whales in the Channel.
David Hilton, 64, and Paul Bradshaw, 61, were angling off the South Coast when they saw several large creatures breaching the surface.
They appeared to be hunting dolphins in busy international shipping lanes, just five miles south of Plymouth, Devon.
Orcas are found in oceans all over the world, but they are most commonly seen in the Pacific Northwest (US and Canada), Norway, Iceland and the Antarctic water.
But sightings in the Channel are rare.
The Channel is not a typical habitat for orcas as it is shallow and heavily trafficked.
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Why do orcas “kiss”?
OFTEN called killer whales, orcas are actually the largest species of dolphin. These highly intelligent mammals are known for their advanced communication and complex social lives.
Orcas are known to “kiss” by gently touching or nuzzling each other with their mouths.
Researchers studying orcas both in the wild and in captivity believe this behaviour helps them relieve stress, resolve conflicts and strengthen long-term social bonds.
When orcas “kiss” or nuzzle, it’s usually an affectionate, social gesture rather than a romantic one.
Mothers and calves are often seen engaging in this behaviour, along with other members of a pod – their tight-knit family groups.
