Rare Footage Captures Sperm Whales Helping Peer Give Birth in Wild
- Scientists have captured rare video footage of a sperm whale giving birth off the coast of the Caribbean island of Dominica.
- The documentation reveals what researchers describe as birth assistance among non-human mammals.
- The 19-year-old mother, identified as Rounder, delivered her second calf over a span of approximately 34 minutes.
Rare Dominica Waters Yield Sighting of Whale Birth
Scientists have captured rare video footage of a sperm whale giving birth off the coast of the Caribbean island of Dominica.
The documentation reveals what researchers describe as birth assistance among non-human mammals. A team from the Cetacean Translation Initiative, known as Project CETI, witnessed the event on July 8, 2023. They were observing a pod of 11 sperm whales when the moment unfolded.
Rounder Delivers Calf as Family Gathers Close
The 19-year-old mother, identified as Rounder, delivered her second calf over a span of approximately 34 minutes. She was surrounded by family members and unrelated females during the process.
Data collected during the nearly five-and-a-half-hour observation window was published in the journals Scientific Reports and Science. Project CETI researcher Shane Gero noted that the observation provides the first evidence of birth assistance outside of primates. It highlights intergenerational support from a grandmother to her labouring daughter alongside assistance from unrelated pod members.
Pod Intervenes to Keep Newborn Afloat
During the delivery, adult females dived under Rounder’s dorsal fin. They positioned themselves on their backs with their heads facing her genital slit.
The birth lasted 34 minutes. Afterward, pairs of whales actively supported the newborn.
Newborn sperm whales sink immediately despite becoming talented swimmers within hours. Because of this, the pod intervened to lift the calf toward the surface.
Pod behavior changed rapidly after birth. Adults squeezed the newborn’s body between theirs, touching it with their heads and pushing it around under and above the water.
Vocal Shifts Signal Coordination and Defense
Researchers documented significant changes in vocal styles during critical moments of the birth. Similar shifts occurred when a group of pilot whales approached the pod.
According to the studies, these vocal shifts suggest the group coordinated their efforts to support the birth and protect the newborn.
Surviving Calf Spotted Swimming a Year Later
The calf was later spotted alive on July 25 of the following year. It was swimming with younger pod members Accra and Aurora.
Project CETI indicated this is a positive sign for the animal’s survival to adulthood.