When naturalist stories about unicorns first whispered their way through history, few people would have guessed these enchanting legends had a real-world counterpart in the cold Arctic seas. Yet the narwhal—an elusive whale whose spiraled tusk helped seed unicorn lore—has proved just as magical and mysterious as any myth. Now, astonishing drone footage from researchers in Canada’s High Arctic has captured narwhals wielding their iconic tusks in ways never before documented, revealing behaviors that range from careful prey-stunning to what appears to be playful curiosity.
Welcome to a new chapter in narwhal science—one that’s rewriting old assumptions and offering an up-close glimpse at how these whales navigate a changing Arctic.
A High Arctic Spectacle
In the summer of 2022, scientists led by Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and Fisheries and Oceans Canada camped in Creswell Bay, Somerset Island, Nunavut (O’Corry-Crowe et al., Frontiers in Marine Science). Their main goal: to observe narwhals in one of the most remote marine environments on Earth without disturbing them. Drones proved the perfect tools, hovering at least 20 meters above the water to capture never-before-seen footage of these elusive cetaceans.
Over two brief encounters, the team witnessed three species in a watery drama: narwhals, Arctic char (their potential prey), and opportunistic glaucous gulls that attempted to snatch fish away from the whales—a behavior called kleptoparasitism. Each day’s footage revealed something surprising about narwhal behavior and, in particular, the variety of ways narwhals use their tusks.
The Tusks: Nature’s Most Curious Tooth
The narwhal’s “horn” is actually a single elongated tooth—most commonly found in males—that can grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) in length (Nweeia et al., 2014). Past theories suggested this tusk was primarily for sexual selection or ritual displays: narwhals have been documented crossing tusks (“tusking”) at the surface, which could be a form of communication or competition among males (Graham et al., 2020). Indeed, there are records of broken tusks embedded in the jaws of other male narwhals, indicating real confrontations (Silverman and Dunbar, 1980).
But this new drone footage tells a broader story. Besides possible mate attraction or territorial display, the tusk seems to serve several other purposes:
- Environmental Sensing: The tooth is highly innervated and porous, potentially detecting changes in salinity or temperature.
- Prey Capture: Scientists have long suspected narwhals might use the tusk to tap, stun, or manipulate fish.
- Exploratory Behavior & Play: The team’s latest observations strongly suggest that narwhals use the tusk for more than just predation or defense.
The synergy of these functions calls to mind other tusked mammals—like elephants and walruses—that similarly repurpose elongated teeth for foraging, aggression, and social bonding (Miller, 1975; Whyte and Hall-Martin, 2018).
First Observation: Curiosity Without the Kill
On August 4, drone footage captured a remarkable scene:
- One large adult narwhal (referred to as W1 in the study) cornered a single, sizable Arctic char near the Union River in Creswell Bay.
- Two additional narwhals soon joined, forming a trio that carefully tracked the fish’s every move.
In a twist, they never actually tried to eat the fish. Instead, the lead narwhal gently tapped, nudged, and occasionally rotated the char with its tusk tip, almost as if testing or toying with it. One sub-adult narwhal swam close by but hesitated to approach the fish directly—possibly learning from the older individual’s actions.
The char, for its part, escaped by sprinting away after a series of agile maneuvers. Intriguingly, this entire sequence lasted several minutes, during which none of the narwhals delivered a forceful strike meant to stun or kill. While partial hits did occur, they seemed gentle—more like “play taps” than predatory blows.
Could It Be Play?
This sighting may represent the first formal documentation of “exploratory-object play” in narwhals. As defined by animal behaviorists, an activity is considered play when it meets five criteria: it has no obvious immediate function, appears spontaneous, involves repeated or exaggerated actions, lacks stress, and seems voluntary. That narwhals—adult ones at that—would spend precious energy nudging a fish they had no intention of eating is a strong hint of playful, investigative behavior.
“We were puzzled to see the whales so focused on a fish they never intended to capture,” said Greg O’Corry-Crowe, Ph.D., senior author of the study. “They’d gently tap the Arctic char, then pull back, as if discovering something entirely new.”
In an Arctic environment where energy must typically be budgeted for survival—migration, mating, and evading predators—play is rarely recorded. The fact that these narwhals had time for a non-essential activity suggests periods of relative safety and abundant resources.
Second Observation: Hunting in Earnest
Just two days later, the same team recorded a starkly different scenario near the mouth of the Kuksik River. This time:
- Three younger male narwhals actively chased multiple smaller Arctic char.
- Gulls swooped overhead, repeatedly trying to steal fish that the narwhals had targeted.
Here, tusk taps were anything but gentle. The whales delivered rapid, forceful blows—at times five or more in quick succession—stunning or killing the char. One narwhal appeared to swallow its prey after delivering these strikes. All the while, glaucous gulls dove in to snatch fish right out from under the whales’ tusks—a prime example of how kleptoparasitism can hamper a marine mammal’s feeding success.
Remarkable Precision
In analyzing the video, researchers noted the narwhals’ ability to swivel their bodies sideways and twist quickly—up to 360 degrees in under three seconds—while still keeping the fish in front of their tusks. Such acrobatics likely help them track prey with incredible dexterity.
This second observation not only confirmed narwhals use their tusks to knock fish senseless, but also underscored the interplay of multiple species in the nearshore Arctic zone. Gulls watching from above waited for the perfect moment to thieve. The narwhals, in turn, displayed quick adaptation—sometimes diving deeper to finish their pursuit out of the gulls’ range.
Adaptation Amid a Changing Arctic
These behaviors bring more than novelty to narwhal lore; they highlight the species’ flexibility and potential for innovation. As the Arctic warms, new prey species like Arctic char may become more common or accessible in narwhal habitats. Understanding whether narwhals can adjust their feeding habits is crucial for anticipating how they’ll fare in an era of rapid sea-ice decline.
Climate and Food Web Shifts
While narwhals typically rely on deep-diving for prey such as Greenland halibut or Gonatus squid in winter (Laidre and Heide-Jørgensen, 2005), the summer months in open water appear to offer additional foraging opportunities. The study authors note that previous diet assessments in some narwhal populations found minimal Arctic char consumption (Watt et al., 2013). But as conditions evolve, narwhals’ flexible tusk usage—whether for stunned fish or curious exploration—could give them an adaptive edge.
Social Learning and Group Dynamics
In many whale and dolphin species, knowledge is shared through social learning. Younger individuals watch and imitate older ones, sometimes picking up foraging tricks or other behaviors that prove pivotal for survival (Whiten, 2019). The drone footage from Creswell Bay strongly hints at similar dynamics among narwhals.
- Cooperative or Competitive?
In the first scenario, older and younger whales seemed to coordinate or at least not overly interfere with each other’s “fish exploration,” though blocking or jockeying for position occurred occasionally. In the second observation, competition was more pronounced—likely because actual prey capture was at stake. - Communication Through Body Language
Subtle shifts in posture, the angle of the tusk, or proximity to one another could signal everything from cooperation to cautious rivalry. No overt aggression was noted, but the whales did engage in quick maneuvers to gain the best access to fish. - Potential Teaching Moments
The sub-adult in the first scenario might have been practicing or learning tusk maneuvers. In the second scenario, a younger narwhal observed older whales succeed at hitting fish and eventually joined the pursuit.
The question remains: how do these experiences spread through narwhal communities? If a handful of whales discover a new, efficient technique for stunning fish, that knowledge could radiate outward to others—crucial for adapting to shifting ecosystems.
Collaboration With Inuit Communities
Integral to this research was the partnership with Inuit communities in Nunavut. Local Indigenous knowledge, refined over generations of living alongside Arctic wildlife, complements drone footage with invaluable context. As climate shifts, these communities often serve as the first to witness changes in wildlife behavior—reinforcing how science can marry modern technology with traditional observation for more holistic conservation approaches.
Protecting the “Unicorns of the Sea”
Beyond the scientific thrill of glimpsing an everyday routine for narwhals (if one can call anything about them routine), these new findings carry a strong conservation message. Narwhals are especially sensitive to:
- Ice Loss: They rely on sea ice and are vulnerable to entrapment in quickly refreezing waters (Laidre and Heide-Jørgensen, 2005).
- Noise Pollution: Sonar, shipping traffic, and seismic surveys can disorient whales that depend heavily on echolocation.
- Overfishing: If Arctic char or other fish stocks become overexploited, narwhals might lose a valuable food source just as they’re discovering it.
With warming waters, the Arctic is set to become busier—more ships, more resource extraction, more fishery expansions. The dynamic tusk usage on display in these drone videos signals that narwhals might adapt to new prey. Yet it also warns us that the complexities of marine ecosystems—like gulls stealing fish or competition from other predators—could magnify under climate stress.
Taking Action: Solutions and Hope
1. Support Responsible Research and Monitoring
Organizations such as Fisheries and Oceans Canada, World Wildlife Fund (Canada), and Natural Resources Canada’s Polar Continental Shelf Program help fund and facilitate non-invasive drone studies. Contributing to or volunteering with these groups furthers our understanding of narwhals, leading to stronger conservation strategies.
2. Advocate for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
Areas like Nunavut’s Lancaster Sound are designated sanctuaries that limit disruptive activities. Encouraging the creation and expansion of MPAs can mitigate habitat pressures on narwhals by restricting industrial operations in critical foraging or breeding grounds.
3. Reduce Noise Pollution
Support shipping regulations that set speed limits or alter routes to avoid prime narwhal habitat. Satellite data and acoustic sensors can be used to track migrations and alert vessels to slow down or reroute during key periods.
4. Champion Sustainable Fisheries
Small changes, such as stricter catch limits on Arctic char or improved net technology, can reduce competition and preserve fish stocks that narwhals may come to rely on more heavily. Look for reputable seafood labels to ensure your purchasing choices favor sustainability.
5. Engage in Citizen Science
Eco-tourism in Canada’s Arctic can be done responsibly. Tour operators who respect whale-watching guidelines—keeping distance, avoiding noisy approaches, and never chasing wildlife—offer travelers the thrill of encountering narwhals while collecting observational data for scientists.
The Bigger Picture: An Invitation to Wonder
Drone technology is revealing wonders once hidden beneath the Arctic ice. Moments captured—be it a narwhal gently “swirling” a fish on its tusk or fiercely clubbing smaller char in a feeding frenzy—offer a window into a creature that has long evaded direct study. It’s a reminder that the natural world can still surprise us with behaviors that defy tidy classification. Here is an animal we once wrote off as a mythical unicorn of the sea, now proving it’s every bit as adaptable, intelligent, and curious as its cousins around the globe.
Just like the sub-adult whale that hovered near its more experienced companions, many of us stand on the brink of new knowledge. By investing in research, conservation, and the wisdom of local communities, we can help ensure narwhals continue to swirl their tusks in the Arctic light—whether for playful curiosity or for the practical business of catching a meal.
Key Takeaways & Next Steps
- Narwhal tusks have multiple purposes beyond courtship displays, including foraging, exploration, and possibly play.
- Drone footage provides rare, non-invasive views of intimate narwhal behaviors, revealing how they approach prey and test new contexts.
- Climate change is pushing new prey species into narwhal habitats, and the whales’ ability to adapt remains critical for their survival.
- Inuit partnerships were vital to this research, blending technology with Indigenous knowledge to deepen our understanding of narwhals.
- Conservation efforts—like Marine Protected Areas, sustainable fishing, and noise reduction—can safeguard narwhals during tumultuous Arctic shifts.
The “unicorn of the sea” wields its legendary tusk in ways we’re only beginning to understand. By preserving its Arctic realm, we allow this majestic whale to keep mesmerizing us with its hidden repertoire of cunning, curiosity, and playful spirit.