Rare Footage Captures Whales Cooperating to Aid Mother and Newborn Calf
In an extraordinary scientific breakthrough, researchers have documented a sperm whale giving birth while other female whales collaborated to support the mother and her newborn. This rare event, filmed off the coast of Dominica in the Caribbean, offers unprecedented insights into cetacean social behaviour and evolutionary adaptations.
Unprecedented Observation of Birth Assistance
The remarkable footage was captured by a team from Project Ceti, an international initiative focused on understanding whale communication. On 8 July 2023, near a pod of 11 whales, scientists observed a 19-year-old female named Rounder surrounded by family members and other whales as she prepared to give birth to her second calf.
Over nearly five and a half hours, the team meticulously documented the group's behaviour using boats, drones, and underwater audio recordings. The data, published in the journals Scientific Reports and Science, represents a significant rarity in scientific history.
Out of 93 cetacean species, which include whales, dolphins, and porpoises, only nine have been observed giving birth in the wild. Even more uncommon was the involvement of whales not related to the mother, providing assistance during the birth process.
Detailed Account of the Birth and Supportive Behaviour
Shane Gero, a member of the Project Ceti team, highlighted the significance of this observation to New Scientist, stating, "This is the first evidence of birth assistance in non-primates. It is fascinating to see the intergenerational support from the grandmother to her labouring daughter, and the support from the other, unrelated females."
The birth itself lasted 34 minutes, from the initial emergence of the tails from the water to the calf's delivery. During labour, adult females dived under Rounder's dorsal fin, often positioning themselves on their backs with their heads facing her genital slit to offer support.
Immediately after the birth, the pod's behaviour "rapidly changed" as every member became active. According to the study in Scientific Reports, all adults were "squeezing the newborn's body between theirs, touching it with their heads". The whales pointed their noses towards the newborn, "pushing it around, under the water, and on to and across their bodies above the surface".
Evolutionary Adaptations and Social Dynamics
This cooperative behaviour dates back over 36 million years and is believed to stem from the unique evolutionary history of cetaceans. As the only mammals that returned to the ocean after their ancestors adapted to land life, cetaceans developed specific traits to prevent newborns from drowning.
For instance, whale calves are born tail-first, unlike head-first births in other mammals. While newborn sperm whales become proficient swimmers within hours, they initially sink after birth. Thus, other whales must lift the calf to "prevent the newborn from sinking while also facilitating its first breaths", as noted by researchers.
Primates, including humans, are the only other mammals known to assist during birth, making this observation particularly noteworthy. The scientists also recorded significant changes in vocalisations during key events, such as when a group of pilot whales approached the pod post-birth, suggesting coordinated efforts to support the birth or protect the newborn.
Long-Term Implications and Survival
Sperm whales have one of the longest pregnancies in the animal kingdom, lasting up to 16 months. Calves are born approximately 4 metres (13 feet) long and depend on their mother's milk for at least two years. As they grow, young whales become central to their pod's social unit, with others assisting in babysitting while the mother forages for food.
After the 2023 filming, the pod was not seen for over a year until the newborn was spotted with other young members, Accra and Aurora, on 25 July last year. Surviving the first year is a positive indicator that the sperm whale will reach adulthood, according to the Project Ceti team.
This rare footage not only enhances our understanding of whale behaviour but also underscores the complex social structures and evolutionary strategies that have enabled these majestic creatures to thrive in marine environments.
