Talking Killer Whale: Scientists Teach Orca To Say 'Hello,' 'Bye-Bye'

A killer whale can say things like "hello," "bye-bye" and "one two three" after a team of scientists taught her to imitate human speech sounds. The orca's human-like vocalizations represent a breakthrough, as it is the first time such capacity for imitation has been shown in the species. Additionally, copying sounds from peers is considered a rare phenomenon in general, with birds being another animal that has been noted for the skill. "Vocal imitation is a hallmark of human spoken language, which, along with other advanced cognitive skills, has fueled the evolution of human culture," the scientists said in their study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. "Although the ability to copy sounds from conspecifics is widespread in birds, it is strikingly rare in mammals, and among primates it is uniquely human."