# Terrifying or Fascinating? – Spectacular Footage of Orca Simulating Human Speech
In a staggering blend of awe and fear, a video portraying an orca attempting to mimic human speech has hooked and sent chills down the spines of viewers worldwide.
Killer whales, or orcas as they are also known, are regarded as one of the ocean’s most intellectual creatures. Their sublime beauty paired with their top-of-the-food-chain status and prodigious brainpower has captivated scientists for years. Now, the spotlight is on these fascinating animals once again, as they demonstrate a previously unexplored ability – mimicking human-like sounds.
## The Enigma of Orca Languages
The phenomenon trace back to a 2018 research published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. The multinational team of researchers from Germany, Spain, UK, and Chile delved into the flexibility orcas have when it comes to reproducing foreign sounds.
“We were intrigued to discover how much a killer whale could adapt in duplicating noises,” revealed Josep Call, professor of evolutionary origins of the mind at the University of St Andrews and a co-author of the study.
He added, “We wanted to conclusively establish their copying ability by presenting them with sounds not found in their repertoire – and in this case, ‘hello,’ is certainly not part of a killer whale’s vocabulary.”
The scientists put this theory to test with a female killer whale, Wikie, housed in a French aquarium. Initially trained to mimic sounds made by her calf, Wikie was then given an assortment of orca and human sounds to copy, including phrases like “hello,” “Amy,” “ah ha,” “one, two,” and “bye-bye.”
## Laughter and Fear – Reactions to the Orca’s Attempt
The results of the experiment stunned the scientists. Wikie displayed an uncanny ability to reproduce the sounds quickly, successfully imitating two of them on her very first try. These astounding recordings whirlwinded across social platforms, triggering a raft of reactions.
“It’s as terrifying as it is humorous,” one social media user commented.
Accompanied by a degree of hysteria, another noted, “The second hello sounded slightly demonic. Was it an orca or the Devil communicating through a ghost box? The scariest and funniest thing EVER!”
Fear was also an undertone in other comments, with one user stating flat-out, “Now I’m scared,” and another adding, “This is indeed the most hair-raising thing I’ve ever heard.”
Professor Call noted that this study stands as the foremost evidence hinting that orcas could be capable of vocal imitation. “We probably now have the first indication that killer whales might learn sounds through vocal imitation, a plausible basis for the dialects we observe in the wild,” he elaborated.
Irrespective of the structural differences between orcas and humans, “they can still create a sound that comes close to what another species, in this case—humans, can produce,” added Call.
Intrigued? Hear the sensational sounds for yourself!
