Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Mother Humpback Whale Stays Beside Stillborn Calf in Rare Behaviour
Scientists filmed a mother humpback whale beside her calf after the calf was stillborn.
Stillborn means the calf was born dead.
The mother did not quickly swim away from the calf.
She stayed close and repeatedly placed herself next to it.
She also appeared to look at the calf.
Scientists think these actions may show caregiving or a strong mother-child bond.
Similar behaviour has been seen in dolphins and killer whales.
Researchers believe this could be the first video of this kind of response in a baleen whale.
Scientists filmed a mother humpback whale remaining beside her stillborn calf off Australia’s southern Gold Coast.
The mother repeatedly positioned herself alongside the calf and appeared to maintain eye contact.
Researchers said she stayed close for several hours, and possibly days, after the calf’s birth and death.
Dr Olaf Meynecke said the actions were consistent with caregiving or nurturing and showed strong maternal attachment.
Researchers believe this may be the first video documentation of grief-like behaviour in a baleen whale.
- Who
- A mother humpback whale and her stillborn calf; researchers including Dr Olaf Meynecke of Griffith University studied the footage.
- What
- The mother remained beside her dead calf and displayed behaviour researchers described as grief-like, caregiving, or nurturing.
- When
- After the calf was born stillborn; the mother stayed nearby for several hours and possibly days.
- Where
- Off Australia’s southern Gold Coast.
- Why
- Researchers said the behaviour may indicate strong maternal attachment, although the inner workings of whale minds remain difficult to study.
- Species
- Humpback whale
- Location
- Southern Gold Coast, Australia
- Observed behaviour
- The mother stayed alongside the stillborn calf and appeared to maintain eye contact.
- Duration
- Several hours, possibly days
- Researcher
- Dr Olaf Meynecke, Griffith University Whales and Climate Research Programme
- Scientific significance
- Researchers believe the footage may be the first video documentation of this response in a baleen whale.
- Adult size
- Up to around 60 feet long and 40 tonnes
- Newborn size
- Around 13 to 16 feet long