Greg Okori-Crow

So I think in many ways we've sort of converged on that as the primary use, but it looks now like it has other uses. The narwhal tusk may be more like a Swiss army knife.

Females were nursing calves. Males were hanging out in these sort of bachelor herds.

They don't seem to be pushing and shoving each other with their tusks. It's almost like, you know, don't touch, don't touch the tusk.

They seem to be able to use their tusks to interrogate, manipulate incredible precision, small objects. So the dexterity and use of the tusk was really striking.

And as they were doing it, they were also socializing. So there seemed to be elements of social learning and possibly even social instruction. Larger animal helping a younger animal to explore its environment.

It almost seems like it was the strongest proof that unicorns really did exist.

And also, those who listen.

I've been involved in some satellite tagging of live narwhals, obviously. And it is quite an overwhelming experience to stand there in the water and help hold a live narwhal and sort of feel the tusk.

It almost looks like it has been fashioned and carved. It has a lovely spiral, scrolled pattern to it. So it's mesmerizing, really, in some ways.