Researchers have documented a female humpback whale demonstrating apparent grief over a stillborn calf. The footage, released on September 16, 2026, offers rare insights into the emotional complexity of sea mammals. Captured off Australia’s Gold Coast, the video shows the female whale staying close to the lifeless calf on the seafloor.
The whale was seen accompanied by another whale, maintaining eye contact with the deceased calf and touching it with her head and fin. Andrew Mulville from the Sea World Foundation, who witnessed this event, noted the unusual behavior compared to typical whale activity.
According to Olaf Meynecke of Griffith University’s Whales and Climate Research Program, the whale remained with the calf for hours or possibly days. He described the behavior as both sad and heartbreaking. The study documenting this occurrence was published in Discover Animals.
The whale’s failure to bring the calf to the surface suggests she was aware of its death soon after birth, according to researchers. This behavior might reflect grief-related actions in humpback whales.
Other instances of deceased whale calves were observed in the area at that time, marking the first documented case of such behavior among humpbacks. Marine mammals displaying similar reactions include an orca that carried her dead calf for weeks in 2018. On land, elephants and apes are known for engaging in grief-related behaviors as well.
Recently, significant findings have emerged about humpback whales. A photographer in Australia captured footage of a humpback whale giving birth, believed to be the first such documentation by a drone. Additionally, researchers announced a record-breaking distance traveled by two humpback whales between breeding grounds, showcasing the species’ extensive migratory patterns.
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