Hawaiian pilot whales eat 82–202 squid daily, totaling up to 88,000 tons yearly, new study finds.

Hawaiian short-finned pilot whales consume 82 to 202 squid daily, totaling up to 88,000 tons annually, according to a new study using satellite tags, drones, and dive data. Researchers tracked eight whales, finding they make nearly 40 deep dives per day, eating about four squid per dive. The population of roughly 8,000 relies on abundant squid, which remain stable due to rapid reproduction. The study provides the first detailed energetic budget for the species, highlighting their vulnerability to ocean noise, pollution, and climate change despite current food security.