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'Incredibly rare' orca behavior captured on video for first time
(www.newsweek.com)
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Stunning drone footage from the upcoming National Geographic documentary series Incredible Animal Journeys shows a fascinating orca "skincare" routine."This is behavior so rare that it's only been witnessed by a handful of people," one of the executive producers of the series, Sarah Gibbs, told Newsweek.
To stay healthy, the orcas have to make an almost 7,000-mile round trip to warmer, tropical waters —a journey that can take several weeks—where they can molt and keep themselves clean.
"This incredible behavior is part of the world's longest migration solely for 'skincare' and it's the first time it's ever been captured on film."
"Using an iceberg as a 'scratching post' is an extraordinary display of animal intelligence and a skill you can see being passed down the generations as a mom shows her calf how it's done," Gibbs said.
Aside from the Antarctic orca pod, the series features other behaviors that have never been seen on film before, including the world's first footage of a humpback whale giving birth and a barn swallow, which weighs just a few ounces, battling winds of up to 60 miles per hour as it attempts to cross the Sahara Desert.
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