Cuteness Dose of the Day: Video records baby whale shortly after birth

The video was made off the coast of Maui by University of Hawaii researchers during the Manoa Marine Mammal Research Program. Project leader Lars Bejder was filming whales nearby when he received an unexpected call from a tour company.

People were astonished by an atypical agitation at sea, and soon after, a large amount of blood appeared in the water. This caught the attention of the researchers who immediately moved to the place. Once there they discovered what had caused the whole commotion: a humpback whale had just been born. They used the equipment available to record the video, a rare record of an intimate moment between the humpback whale and its calf.

Reproduction / Marine Mammal Research Program

"I think everyone can admire such a moment, it brings us closer to these animals and gives us a truly majestic view of them, " said Bejder. In addition to being a touching moment, the opportunity to witness the moment and record it was essential for the researchers. Very little is currently known about how humpbacks give birth.

In 2017, a study published in Functional Ecology demonstrated that whales communicate with each other in a "silent" manner to prevent killer whales and other predators, in addition to sexually depraved humpback males. In addition, Humpback babies are totally dependent on their mothers' milk during their first year of life. In short, humpbacks are extremely cooperative animals.

Reproduction / Whale Trust

According to the researchers, the gestation of these whales lasts approximately 11 months and it is known that the bond between mother and calf is very private and intense. Hawaii is a breeding ground for these animals, which return to the islands early in the year during their migration to Alaska.

Nevertheless, no births have been reported in the last 30 years, according to the Whale Trust, an environmental organization focused on the study and preservation of whales. For this reason, the researchers were so excited about the video that it must play an important role in studying the species.