Killer whales, the ocean world's apex predators, are known for their preference for great white sharks, roaming freely across the four oceans without hesitation.

However, it does not prey on humans. Instead, it shows affection for them. Although their name gives them a ferocious impression, their friendly behavior toward humans has been reported and documented many times.

One of the most prominent features of killer whales is their black-and-white coloration. While juvenile killer whales may appear cute, adults grow into massive creatures, with males reaching over 8 meters in length and females slightly shorter.

The distinctive tall dorsal fin of killer whales, which was once likened to a weapon, hence the name "killer whale" or "orca," serves as their emblem. Mariners encountering this fin breaking the surface of the water can recognize the presence of killer whales. Contrary to fearing human vessels, killer whales often exhibit deliberate approaches toward them, indicating a willingness to interact with humans.

In other words, killer whales in the natural world display an inclination towards humans. Unlike sharks, which may instinctively attack humans, killer whales genuinely seek proximity to humans.

While it's not uncommon for animals to seek proximity to humans, such as cats and dogs, which have been domesticated and naturally exhibit affection towards humans, killer whales are different. There are no known instances of killer whales being domesticated; they inhabit vast oceans, entirely detached from the human world. Killer whales in captivity do not represent their natural behavior, as they are captured and confined to small tanks from a young age.

Why do killer whales seek proximity to humans? It's because they are highly intelligent, social animals. If they had evolved limbs, they might have become beings similar to us.

Scientists have observed killer whale brains, which are slightly larger than human brains, showing many similarities in structure, such as cortical folding on the brain's surface and high similarity in brain regions. Particularly, areas responsible for cognition, language, and emotion exhibit heightened sensitivity compared to other brain regions.

These aspects demonstrate the intelligence of killer whales. We already know dolphins possess high intelligence, and killer whales belong to the dolphin family within the animal kingdom.

Given their high intelligence, it's not difficult to understand why killer whales seek proximity to humans. Perhaps in their cognitive framework, the ability to create such large vessels as humans do is remarkable, making humans superior to them. Killer whales also have their language and likely pass down knowledge of human encounters through oral tradition, given their social structure based on kinship. In their cognition, the concept of "humans" is not vague.

Another theory linking killer whales to humans suggests a connection between killer whales and our ancestors, the "marine ape."

According to evolutionary theory, humans evolved from ape-like ancestors, but there's an almost 3-million-year gap between ancient apes and modern humans, with no fossil evidence of ape-like creatures on land during this period.

Scientists propose that during this gap, some apes adapted to life in the sea. While humans are primates, we lack abundant body hair and have physiological features similar to marine mammals like dolphins, which supports the aquatic ape hypothesis.

Killer whales' history dates back approximately 40 million years, overlapping with the period of marine apes. Killer whales might have interacted with humans during this period, leaving an imprint on their genes, explaining their affinity towards humans today.

In today's world, where human-induced damage to the environment is increasingly severe, killer whales might serve as "benevolent" guardians, conveying their love for the Earth and care for humans through their actions.

Perhaps, in this competitive and indifferent society, we all need heartwarming stories to inspire and move us. May humanity and nature coexist harmoniously, creating a better future together. We eagerly await further exploration into the reasons behind killer whales' behaviors, unraveling this mysterious puzzle with wisdom and science.