Humpback whale seen grieving dead calf in rare footage
Summary
Researchers captured rare footage of a female humpback whale appearing to grieve her stillborn calf near Australia’s Gold Coast. The whale stayed with the dead calf for hours or days, showing behavior that scientists believe may indicate mourning.Key Facts
- The footage was taken off Australia’s Gold Coast in 2025.
- The whale stayed close to the stillborn calf, touching it with her head and fin.
- A companion whale was also present during the event.
- Researchers believe this is the first detailed documentation of grieving behavior in humpback whales.
- The mother whale did not try to bring the calf to the surface, indicating awareness of the calf’s death.
- Similar grieving behavior has been seen in orcas and other marine mammals.
- The study highlights strong bonds between mother whales and their calves.
- The research was published on September 16, 2026, in the journal Discover Animals.
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