Mother Humpback Whale Appears to Grieve Stillborn Calf in ‘Heartbreaking’ and ‘Extremely Rare’ Footage

**Rare Footage Captures Humpback Whale Mother Grieving for Her Stillborn Calf**

In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have documented rare footage of a humpback whale mother interacting with her stillborn calf, shedding light on the grieving process in these marine mammals. The footage, recorded in July 2025 off the Gold Coast of Australia, provides a unique insight into how humpback whales cope with the loss of their young.

The video, captured by a GoPro camera at Palm Beach Reef, showcases a mother whale exhibiting behaviours indicative of grief. According to researchers, she spent hours in close proximity to her stillborn calf, which remained on the seabed. This unprecedented behaviour not only highlights the emotional capacity of these creatures but also contributes to our understanding of how they experience and respond to death.

Co-authored by Andrew Mulville, a rescue boat captain for the SeaWorld Foundation, and Dr Olaf Meynecke, a marine scientist at Griffith University’s Whales and Climate Research Program, the report reveals that the mother whale engaged in repeated interactions with her calf. The footage shows her swimming close to the body, resting beside it, and even covering the calf with her pectoral fin, behaviours suggesting profound attentiveness and sorrow.

Dr Meynecke conveyed that the absence of attempts to lift the calf to the surface of the water is particularly telling. Newborn humpback whales do not possess sufficient blubber to float independently, leading researchers to believe the mother understood that her calf was unresponsive, thereby demonstrating a level of awareness rarely seen in animal behaviour studies.

The significance of this encounter cannot be overstated. Prior to the observations made in July 2025, there had been no recorded instances of grieving behaviour in humpback whales. “It’s extremely rare to witness such a moment,” Meynecke noted, adding that only around 20 humpback whale births have been observed and documented thus far. None of these instances have involved a stillborn, making this footage even more critical for researchers.

The circumstances under which the footage was obtained were equally unexpected. Mulville, who was on a fishing trip, was alerted to strange whale behaviour in the area and decided to investigate. “It was definitely not what I was expecting to see out at sea that day,” he remarked, highlighting the serendipitous nature of this significant discovery.

The team drew parallels between the observed behaviours in humpbacks and those seen in other socially complex mammals, such as elephants and primates. Similar expressions of grief have been recorded in various species, including orcas and chimpanzees, yet sightings of such poignant interactions in marine environments remain exceedingly rare. As Dr Meynecke pointed out to CBS News, while grief has been acknowledged in terrestrial mammals, documenting such actions at sea is a much more challenging task.

The emotional weight of this footage resonates with the researchers, who described witnessing the mother whale’s behaviour as “heartbreaking”. The connection between a mother and her calf is profound, and this incident highlights the intense bond that exists between them. “It’s really sad,” said Dr Meynecke, reflecting on the emotional impact of watching the mother whale maintain continuous contact with her deceased offspring.

As the scientific community continues to explore the emotional lives of marine mammals, this incident serves as a poignant reminder of the complex and often painful experiences that they may navigate. The footage not only contributes valuable data to marine biology but also invites further contemplation on the nature of grief and emotional depth in non-human species.

In a world increasingly attuned to the emotional well-being of animals, this remarkable footage encourages us to reflect on the lives of marine creatures and the profound connections they share. Understanding the grieving process in humpback whales is a significant step forward in appreciating the emotional richness of the animal kingdom.