A rare set of underwater videos off Australia’s Gold Coast shows a humpback whale mother remaining with a calf that is presumed stillborn. Reports say the calf lies motionless on the seafloor while the adult stays close for several hours, including repeated diving and making eye contact. Some outlets describe the mother touching the calf with her head and fin.
Scientists involved in the observation frame the behaviour as potentially related to “grieving,” marking the first well-documented instance of such conduct in humpback whales. Phys.org, BBC News and others say the footage is extremely rare and may offer insight into maternal attachment and emotional complexity. However, some analysis in The Guardian emphasizes uncertainty: the actions could also reflect instinctive caregiving, confusion, or the strength of maternal bonding rather than grief in a strictly human sense.
Overall, outlets agree the event occurred off the Gold Coast and was recorded via underwater video, but they differ slightly in wording—some use “grieving” more directly while others stress alternative explanations. Reports also vary on time scale, with one stating the mother may have stayed for days, while most describe several hours.
