I think you're nit-picking, gnu. If one whale knows how to catch gulls and the others observe this behavior, then they're learning from the first whale. It seems that the whale expert who says the one whale taught the others is in a better position to reach this conclusion than those of us who simply read the report on the findings and who might question them.
That's not to say that no one should question science. It needs that continual dialog to remain viable. But what in that sequence of events don't you find believable? The fact that animals can teach and learn? For a long time humans in many cultures have been certain that they are superior to "dumb animals" in so many ways. Some find it off-putting to find that we have smart company in the animal kingdom. Just look at anyone who has tried to keep squirrels out of their bird feeders.