iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
A video recorded off Queensland in July 2025 shows a presumed mother humpback whale repeatedly touching and staying beside her stillborn calf. Researchers describe this as post-mortem attentive behavior and say it may reflect maternal attachment or a grief-like response—but the footage cannot establish what the whale felt.
What the video shows
On July 17, 2025, observers near Palm Beach reef, off Queensland’s Gold Coast, first saw two adult humpback whales milling near the surface. Underwater footage later showed a small calf on the seafloor with no visible movement or respiration. A presumed female approached, touched the calf with her head and pectoral fin, and rested beside it, including in an eye-to-eye position.
The observers recorded activity from about 8 a.m. until they left at 10 a.m. Their underwater recordings totalled about 15 minutes, including 12 minutes in which the stillborn calf was visible. The exact time of birth was unknown. Researchers saw no attempt to lift the calf to the surface. They recorded vocalizations but could not tell whether they came from the presumed mother, the other adult whale, or both.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Adult humpbacks were reported in the same area on each of the following two days, but the observers could not identify individuals. Those sightings therefore do not establish that the mother stayed with the calf continuously or that the same whales were present.
#1 Best Overall
Does this mean whales grieve?
The researchers call the observed behavior post-mortem attentive behavior. They suggest it may indicate maternal attachment and a grief-like response, but the footage does not prove that the whale understood the calf was dead or experienced grief. The authors say the behavior could also reflect emotional distress, confusion, or instinctive caregiving.
Marine biologist Jan-Olaf Meynecke cautioned against directly comparing a whale’s experience with human grief: “the whale is experiencing their world in a completely different form and shape.” The footage is evidence of what the whale did, not a window into its subjective experience.
Rank #2
Why this observation matters
Meynecke and Andrew Mulville describe their report as the first detailed documentation of post-mortem attendance in a humpback whale. Such behavior is uncommon in published baleen-whale research, while it has been documented predominantly in toothed whales. That difference may reflect both species behavior and the difficulty of observing the behavior: dead neonates can sink, and births are rarely witnessed. Few documented cases do not prove that the behavior does not happen.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThe paper also reports seven deceased humpback neonates and one deceased young whale of unconfirmed age class in its review of the broader region during July 2025. These are observations from the study’s regional review, not a population-wide estimate of humpback mortality.
The authors argue that rare neonatal deaths need systematic documentation to help researchers understand the cognitive, emotional, and evolutionary significance of post-mortem behavior in large whales. Their report, published in Discover Animals on September 16, 2026, and its video are available in the scientific article. Science News’ report also discusses the footage and the researchers’ interpretation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Watching whales responsibly
This encounter is a research observation, not a recommendation to approach whales or seek out a distressed animal. Queensland’s official whale-watching guidance covers responsible viewing from tours and land. It says not to touch whales.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
