Humpback whale observed lingering with dead calf suggests possible grief
Off Australia's Gold Coast, a humpback whale mother stayed near her stillborn calf for hours, possibly days, maintaining eye contact and close positioning. The behavior resembles caregiving and may indicate grief, offering insight into emotional complexity in baleen whales.
The encounter took place in 2025 off Australia's southern Gold Coast, where a female humpback appeared to have delivered a stillborn calf, accompanied by an escort whale. Researchers documented the mother's prolonged attention beneath the surface, a contrast to toothed whales, which have been observed lifting dead calves to the surface in published accounts.
Dr. Olaf Meynecke of Griffith University's Whales and Climate Research Program noted that post-mortem attentive behavior has been well documented in odontocetes but rarely in baleen whales. Andrew Mulville, a Sea World Foundation rescue boat captain, initially mistook the pair for resting whales before recognizing the unusual circumstances. The findings were published as a case study on neonatal mortality events.
This rare documentation could deepen public understanding of emotional complexity in marine mammals, potentially shaping how conservation efforts prioritize maternal and neonatal protection. Whale-watching operators, researchers, and policymakers may use such observations to inform guidelines for approaching distressed animals. The findings could also foster broader empathy for non-human grief, encouraging more humane treatment of cetaceans in wild and managed settings, though the behavior's interpretation remains scientifically cautious.