抓拍虎鲸的深情表达

复杂社会互动：抓拍虎鲸的深情表达

Two orcas at Loro Parque zoo in Spain have been captured touching mouths and nibbling tongues in a believed display of affectionate reconciliation, supporting claims of shared social traits with humans.

日前，西班牙洛洛帕克动物园的两只虎鲸被拍到用嘴触碰对方的嘴巴，并轻咬对方的舌头，科学家认为这是和解的表现，也印证了虎鲸与人类有共同社会特征的说法。

The orca whales have been observed for a study published on June 18 in Zoo Biology, 'Social interaction analysis in captive orcas'.

6月18日发表在《动物园生物学》杂志上的一项名为《圈养虎鲸的社会互动分析》的研究，对虎鲸的行为进行了观察分析。

"We conducted a detailed analysis of social relationships shown by the orcas kept at Loro Parque zoo and their tendency to reconcile after aggressive episodes," says the Zoo Biology study summary.

动物园生物学研究报告中写道：“我们对洛洛帕克动物园的虎鲸，所表现出的社会关系进行了详细的分析，并分析了它们在发生攻击行为后趋于和解的倾向。”

"We documented the pattern "gentle tongue bite", where an animal touches the other's tongue with his teeth but does not bite it."

“我们见证了‘轻咬模式’的和解行为，即一只动物用牙齿接触另一只动物的舌头，但不会咬它。”

A recent study published in the American Psychological Association Journal says that orcas appear to share certain behavioural characteristics with both humans and chimpanzees.

最近发表在《美国心理学协会杂志》上的一项研究表明，虎鲸似乎与人类和黑猩猩都具有某些行为特征。

A press release summary says the findings "suggest some evolutionary convergence where the personality traits of killer whales and primates are similar because of the advanced cognitive abilities required for complex social interactions".

一份新闻稿摘要称，这些发现“表明，虎鲸和灵长类动物的一些进化趋同特征是相似的，因为它们具有复杂社会互动所需的高级认知能力”。

Arguing orcas have been seen to bite, jostle and act aggressively towards each other. Scientists believe subsequent affectionate behaviour is indicative of whales resolving the quarrel. They have also noted orcas will return to a synchronised swimming form after making peace.

争执中的虎鲸会咬人、挤来挤去，并对彼此表现出攻击性，而随后的亲昵行为则表明它们解决了争吵，科学家还注意到虎鲸在和解后会恢复花样游泳的状态。

The behaviour could help further illuminate methods of conflict resolution in killer whales, who are recognised as an incredibly socially-adept species.

这种行为有助于进一步阐明虎鲸解决冲突的方法，虎鲸被认为是一种非常善于社交的物种。