High above the icy waters of the Canadian Arctic, groundbreaking drone footage has captured narwhals in action, revealing behaviors that have long eluded scientific understanding.
These enigmatic creatures, often referred to as the “unicorns of the sea,” have now been observed wielding their iconic tusks not just as ornamental structures or tools in mating rituals, but as active instruments for hunting, exploration, and even play. This discovery ushers in a new era of research on one of the most elusive and charismatic marine mammals inhabiting Earth’s frigid northern seas.
The narwhal’s scientific name, Monodon monoceros, directly translates to “one tooth, one horn.” This name carries a bit of ironic humor. Although the name references a horn, the spiraled appendage protruding from the heads of these whales isn’t a horn at all—it’s an elongated tooth, or tusk.
The distinction may seem minor, but for those who study these creatures, it’s a reminder of how little the outside world has truly known about them. For centuries, the narwhal’s tusk has sparked human imagination, inspiring tales of unicorns and fantastic beasts. Its biological purpose, however, has remained something of a mystery.
Traditionally, the narwhal’s tusk—found predominantly in males and capable of reaching lengths up to ten feet—was believed to play a role in sexual selection. Many scientists hypothesized that it was a secondary sexual characteristic, much like the antlers of a deer or the elaborate plumage of a peacock. Males may use their tusks to display dominance or engage in mating displays aimed at winning over potential mates.
Yet for all the speculation, little concrete evidence existed about how narwhals actually use their tusks in the wild. The primary reason for this uncertainty is the narwhal’s secretive lifestyle. These marine mammals inhabit remote and often inaccessible areas of the Arctic Ocean, surfacing only briefly in ice-choked waters, far from human observation. This remoteness has left researchers with more questions than answers and has allowed folklore and myth to thrive in the absence of direct knowledge.
But all of that is beginning to change thanks to an innovative research collaboration between Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and Inuit communities in Nunavut. Together, they have captured the first clear evidence of narwhals using their tusks as tools—not in displays of bravado but as functional instruments to interact with their environment.
The team utilized drone technology to observe narwhals from an unobtrusive distance, providing a rare and valuable aerial perspective on these animals’ behavior. Their observations were nothing short of remarkable. The researchers witnessed narwhals using their tusks to investigate and manipulate their surroundings, particularly in interactions with Arctic char, a large and common fish species found in the frigid northern waters. The footage clearly showed narwhals delivering quick, targeted blows to the fish with their tusks—stunning, and possibly even killing, their prey in the process.
Altogether, the drone surveys documented seventeen distinct behaviors, shedding unprecedented light on narwhal foraging strategies and their complex social interactions. The findings, published in Frontiers in Marine Science, represent a significant leap forward in understanding how narwhals live, hunt, and play in their increasingly threatened Arctic habitats.
Perhaps most intriguing, researchers noted signs of play behavior in these whales—specifically, what scientists refer to as exploratory-object play. This behavior suggests that narwhals may use their tusks not only as weapons or hunting tools but also as sensory organs for playful interaction with objects in their environment.
These findings hint at social learning among narwhals and the possibility of social instruction, where individuals may learn behaviors from observing one another. They also suggest differences in personality between individuals, adding to the growing body of evidence that narwhals are far more socially complex than previously thought.
“Narwhals are known for their ‘tusking’ behavior, where two or more of them simultaneously raise their tusks almost vertically out of the water, crossing them in what may be a ritualistic behavior to assess a potential opponent’s qualities or to display those qualities to potential mates,” explained Greg O’Corry-Crowe, Ph.D., senior author of the study, a research professor at FAU Harbor Branch, and a National Geographic Explorer.
“But now we know that narwhal tusks have other uses, some quite unexpected, including foraging, exploration and play.”
For Cortney Watt, Ph.D., co-author and research scientist at Fisheries and Oceans, Canada, the findings are deeply rewarding. “I have been studying narwhal for over a decade and have always marveled at their tusks,” Watt said.
“To observe them using their tusks for foraging and play is remarkable. This unique study where we set up a remote field camp and spent time filming narwhal with drones is yielding many interesting insights and is providing a bird’s eye view of their behavior that we have never seen before,” she added.
The study also highlighted interactions between narwhals that seemed competitive at times. As O’Corry-Crowe noted, “Our observations provide clear evidence of narwhals chasing fish and using their tusks to interact directly with the fish and to influence the fish’s behavior. Some of the interactions we saw appeared competitive in nature with one whale blocking or trying to block another whale’s access to the same target fish, while others may have been more subtle, possibly communicative and even affiliative. None appeared overtly aggressive.”
In summary, this pioneering research offers a vivid glimpse into the secret lives of narwhals, revealing their tusks to be multifunctional tools central to feeding, social behavior, and perhaps even play.
As the Arctic continues to undergo rapid changes due to climate shifts, understanding the behavior of these extraordinary creatures is more vital than ever. These new insights not only challenge long-held assumptions but also deepen our appreciation for the complexities of narwhal life beneath the ice.
Watch the incredible drone imaging in the video below:
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