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the claim

Humpback whales protect other animal species from predators

the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
Recorded sources
2 sources for · 0 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

Is it true that Humpback whales protect other animal species from predators?

Yes. Multiple documented observations show that humpback whales frequently harass and interfere with killer whales attacking other species, often successfully protecting those animals from predation.

Verdict: SUPPORTED · 2 sources for, 0 against · Last checked

The analysis

Paper [1] provides direct observational evidence that humpback whales frequently intervene when killer whales attack various other species (including pinnipeds and other cetaceans), often allowing the prey to escape. Paper [0] also notes humpback involvement in protecting prey from predators. Therefore, the claim is supported.

Evidence for · 2
Whale killers: Prevalence and ecological implications of killer whale predation on humpback whale calves off Western Australia
2014
Humpback whales actively interfere with and attack killer whales that are preying on other species, such as seals and other cetaceans.
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Pitman, R. L., Totterdell, J. A., Fearnbach, H., Ballance, L. T., Durban, J. W., & Kemps, H. (2014). Whale killers: Prevalence and ecological implications of killer whale predation on humpback whale calves off Western Australia. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12182

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More for · 1
Humpback whales interfering when mammal-eating killer whales attack other species: mobbing behavior and interspecific altruism?
2017
Documented observations show humpback whale mobbing behavior frequently allows other animal species to escape from attacking killer whales.
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Pitman, R., Deecke, V., Gabriele, C., Srinivasan, M., Black, N. A., Denkinger, J., Durban, J., Mathews, E., Matkin, D. R., Neilson, J. L., Schulman-Janiger, A., Shearwater, D., Stap, P., & Ternullo, R. (2017). Humpback whales interfering when mammal-eating killer whales attack other species: mobbing behavior and interspecific altruism?. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1111/MMS.12343

Receipt History
first checked04 Aug 2026
judged → SUPPORTED · 8804 Aug 2026
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