Weeping whales: Stillborn humpback whale grieving documented
Recorded: Sept. 20, 2026, 5 a.m.
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Weeping whales: Stillborn humpback whale grieving documented Topics Week's top Latest news Unread news Subscribe Science X Account Sign In Sign in with Forget Password? Not a member? Learn more Nanotechnology Physics Astronomy & Space Earth Chemistry Biology Other Sciences Medicine Technology share this! Share Tweet Share Home Biology Plants & Animals Home Biology Ecology September 16, 2026 Weeping whales: Stillborn humpback whale grieving documented by Griffith University edited by Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's fact-checked trusted source proofread The GIST Add as preferred source Credit: Elianne Dipp from Pexels Humpback whale mothers may experience grief when their calves die, a rare research observation led by Griffith University and Sea World Foundation has found. In 2025, a female humpback whale—along with an escort whale—was observed off the southern Gold Coast after giving birth to a presumed deceased calf. She remained with it for several hours and possibly even days. *May cause distress to viewers* This video, taken in 2025 off the southern Queensland coast in Australia, shows a humpback whale mother returning to the seafloor to her stillborn calf. Credit: Andy Mulville A rare view beneath the surface A case that expands the record More information Key concepts Provided by Who's behind this story? Gaby Clark MA in English, copy editor since 2021 with experience in higher education and health content. Dedicated to trustworthy science news. Robert Egan Bachelor's in mathematical biology, Master's in creative writing. Well-traveled with unique perspectives on science and language. Citation: This document is subject to copyright. 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Research conducted by Griffith University and the Sea World Foundation has documented a rare instance of postmortem attentive behavior in a humpback whale mother following the birth of a stillborn calf, suggesting the possibility of grieving in these marine mammals. In 2025, a female humpback whale was observed off the southern Gold Coast while in the presence of an escort whale, remaining with what was presumed to be a deceased calf for several hours and potentially even days. Dr. Olaf Meynecke, from Griffith University's Whales and Climate Research Program, noted that while postmortem attentive behavior has been documented among toothed whales and delphinids, it has been largely absent from research concerning baleen whales, such as humpback whales. This observation contrasts with reports of toothed whales where mothers have been seen lifting dead calves to the surface, as the observed behavior in this humpback whale involved prolonged postmortem attention and proximity to the deceased calf beneath the water's surface. Meynecke interpreted these behaviors as consistent with caregiving or nurturing actions, indicating an inherent and strong maternal attachment to the calf, similar to responses observed in socially complex mammals. This case study, which was published in Discover Animals, highlights the scarcity of current understanding regarding the cognitive, emotional, and evolutionary dimensions of death-related responses in baleen cetaceans. The event underscores the necessity for continued systematic documentation of rare neonatal mortality events to gain a deeper comprehension of postmortem behavior in large whales. Understanding how nonhuman animals respond to death provides valuable insight into their emotional lives, social bonds, and cognitive capacities. The study emphasizes the importance of examining these responses to advance knowledge about the emotional lives and cognitive capacities of these species. |