托福口语 Task 4

Today, I want to talk about a fascinating phenomenon in animal behavior known as 'cooperative hunting.' Some animals hunt in groups not just for social reasons, but because it dramatically increases their chances of capturing prey that would be difficult to catch alone. A classic example is the orca, or killer whale. Orcas work together to create waves that wash seals off floating ice. They coordinate their movements, sometimes swimming in a line to build a large wave, which forces the seal into the water where other orcas are waiting to catch it. This strategy requires precise timing and role specialization—some orcas create the wave, while others act as ambushers. Another example is the humpback whale, which uses 'bubble net feeding.' A group of humpbacks dives beneath a school of fish, and one whale blows a spiral of bubbles to corral the fish into a tight ball. Then, other whales swim up through the center with open mouths, scooping up thousands of fish at once. This method allows them to capture more prey per individual than hunting alone. So, cooperative hunting is not just about numbers; it's about strategic coordination that leverages each animal's strength for a shared meal.