Incredible footage from 2023 has revealed sperm whales working together to hold a newborn calf above the water until it could swim. The rare event was captured off the coast of Dominica in the Caribbean by researchers studying whale communication.
The video shows two female whales from separate families lifting the baby free of the waves after another gave birth. The display of coordination is highly unusual among non-primates and offers valuable insight into the behaviour of these elusive mammals.
David Gruber, co-author of a study with Project CETI, described the moment as 'really special'. The birth process took around 30 minutes, and for hours afterwards, pairs of whales held the calf above water until it was able to swim.
Researchers observed eleven whales, mostly female, surfacing with heads facing each other before the birth. They used drones and microphones to document the event, later creating software to analyse the sights and sounds. The findings were published in Scientific Reports and Science.
The study highlights the close-knit, female-led societies of sperm whales, with multiple females supporting the new calf even if unrelated. Shane Gero, another co-author, noted: 'It's amazing to think about how, when faced with this impossible challenge, these animals come together to succeed.'
Scientists also recorded distinct clicking sounds during key moments, suggesting communication helped coordinate the effort. The research raises further questions about how such group formations occur and how individual whales know to join in.
