Scientists have captured rare footage of sperm whales cooperating to assist in a birth off the coast of Dominica in 2023. The video shows female whales from two different family lines working together to support the labor and lift the newborn calf above water, displaying a level of coordination that is extremely uncommon in the animal kingdom, especially outside of primates.
Key Takeaways
Scientists captured rare footage of sperm whales cooperating to assist in a birth off the coast of Dominica in 2023. The video shows female whales from different family lines working together to support the labor and lift the newborn calf above water, displaying unprecedented coordination among non-primates.
- Scientists filmed sperm whale giving birth with other females assisting
- Birth took about 34 minutes, with hours of post-birth care by the pod
- Whales made distinct sounds during key moments, possibly for communication
- Sperm whales live in close-knit, female-led societies that support each other during vulnerable moments
The footage was captured by researchers studying whale communication as part of Project CETI. They noticed 11 whales, mostly female, surfacing with their heads facing each other and thrashing and diving above and below the water. The full delivery took about 34 minutes, after which pairs of whales held the baby above the water until it was able to swim.
The findings were published in two studies on Thursday in the journals Scientific Reports and Science. According to Oregon State University behavioral ecologist Mauricio Cantor, 'The group quite literally helps bring the calf into the world.' The researchers also noticed that the whales made different sounds during key moments of the birth, including slower, longer sets of clicks.
The observations highlight how sperm whales live in close-knit, female-led societies and support each other during vulnerable moments. 'It's amazing to think about how, when faced with this impossible challenge, these animals come together to succeed,' said study co-author Shane Gero from Project CETI.
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