Humpback Whale Filmed Grieving Over Its Dead Calf
Researchers in Australia have documented the rare grief behavior of a female humpback whale that refused to leave her stillborn calf.
During research off the coast of Gold Coast, Australia, the emotional moments of a female humpback whale staying by the side of her stillborn calf for hours, or even days, have been documented in detail for the first time.
Emotional Moments Over the Dead Calf
Footage recorded last year off the coast of Gold Coast, Australia, sheds light on the complex emotions of marine mammals. The female humpback whale was seen making contact with her stillborn calf on the seabed.
Experts' Surprising Observations
Andrew Mulville from the Sea World Foundation stated that he initially thought they were two whales resting at the water's surface, but the behavior was very unusual. Researchers stated that the whale stayed by her calf for hours and likely days.
A First Documentation for the Scientific World
Olaf Meynecke from Griffith University emphasized that watching the female whale continuously make contact with her stillborn calf was very upsetting. Scientists noted that this is the first detailed documented event of its kind for this species.
The Strong Bond Between Mother and Calf
The fact that the whale did not try to lift her calf to the surface indicates that she may have realized the death shortly after birth. This situation is considered an indicator of the strong bond between the mother and the calf and the grieving process experienced.
Grief Behaviors in Marine Mammals
Similar incidents had been recorded before; for example, an orca that carried her dead calf for weeks in 2018 made headlines. Encountering such heartbreaking grief rituals in the seas, which are also seen in land mammals like elephants and monkeys, is quite rare.