Call remarked, “What’s really amazing is that orcas can still produce sounds that closely resemble those of other species, including humans, despite having vastly different vocal structures.” Since then, Wikie’s impersonation has been captured on audio and posted to YouTube.
The Implications of Orca Imitation
Even more astonishingly, on her first try, Wikie was able to mimic the sounds of an orca. While keeping her head above water, she also successfully imitated two human words on her first attempt.
“This could be the first conclusive proof that killer whales pick up sounds by imitating vocalizations, which could account for the dialects seen in populations of wild orcas,” Call added.
Can Orcas Truly ‘Speak’?
Researchers warn against taking mimicry as real speech despite the breakthrough. Wikie is not “speaking English,” Call underlined, and there is no proof that she comprehends the meaning of the words she imitates.
