"The researchers launched two aerial drones and started filming. About an hour later, the calm was shattered. The whales started roiling and a sudden gush of blood reddened the water."
"We captured laboring and the moment that the fluke emerged from the mom. They saw the birth. And they watched for hours as different individuals... helped lift the newborn calf to the surface for breaths."
"Using the video footage, machine learning and years of field observations, the scientists were able to identify the birth mother as a sperm whale named Rounder."
"Together, they give the most detailed chronicling of a sperm whale birth to date. And they show a remarkably coordinated and cooperative effort to help both mom and calf."
In July 2023, researchers observed a group of sperm whales in the Caribbean Sea, initially appearing calm. They recorded a dramatic event when a whale gave birth, capturing the moment the calf emerged. The team utilized drones and underwater microphones to document the birth and the whales' communication. The event revealed a coordinated effort among the whales, including non-related individuals, to support the mother and newborn. This unprecedented observation is detailed in studies published in Science and Scientific Reports, marking a significant contribution to understanding sperm whale behavior.
Read at www.npr.org
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]