Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

Humpback Whale Mother's Behavior After Stillbirth Raises Questions About Grief

Researchers observed a humpback whale mother repeatedly interacting with her stillborn calf off the coast of Australia, prompting discussion about animal emotions, though scientists caution against anthropomorphism.

The event, documented in September 2025, involved a mother whale swimming down to her deceased calf on the seafloor, touching it, and resting near it. This behavior differed from the typical response to live births, where mothers push calves to the surface to breathe.

An accompanying adult whale remained nearby, a common behavior for escorts of pregnant or newly-mothered humpbacks.

While the mother's actions were described as a "powerful moment," scientists emphasize the difficulty in proving grief in wild animals without physiological data. They advise against assuming animals experience emotions identically to humans.

The observation is significant as humpback stillbirths are extremely rare and difficult to document due to the calf's lack of buoyancy, causing it to sink quickly.

This footage offers a rare glimpse into how social whales might respond to death, aligning with their known strong social bonds and protective behaviors towards other species and distressed peers.

Experts suggest humpbacks may experience a strong emotional state, even if not directly comparable to human grief, highlighting the need for further observation and study.

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