In July 2023, researchers near Dominica observed something unusual. A group of eleven sperm whales, typically spread out for foraging, gathered closely at the water's surface.
Whale biologist Shane Gero, who was on the boat, noted this was not normal behavior. The whales focused on a female named Rounder. Then, a gush of blood appeared.
The team first thought an animal was attacked. But Rounder then pushed out a tiny tail. They realized they were watching a birth. Gero described the biologists on the boat as "losing their minds."
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Start Your News DetoxUnprecedented Cooperation
Gero and his team used two drones to film the entire birth. The video shows other sperm whales, mostly females and many unrelated to the mother, working together. They helped deliver the calf and supported it for its first few hours. This cooperation, detailed in a March 26 study in Science, is a type rarely seen outside of primates.
Jeremy Goldbogen, a Stanford University physiologist not involved in the study, called the findings "incredibly exciting." He believes they show new ways to study whales using technology.
The whales were observed before, during, and after the birth. They took turns lifting the newborn to the surface for about three hours. This continued until the calf could swim on its own.
To understand each whale's role, scientists used a machine-learning program. This program analyzed the footage to find patterns. Gero then identified individual whales based on his knowledge. Study co-author David Gruber, a marine biologist, said it took "a village of scientists" to understand the event.
Whales from two different families, who usually do not forage together, helped the calf. This suggests their social bonds are "built on something more than just close familial ties," said study co-author Alaa Maalouf. The mother, the calf's aunt, and a young female from another family were the most active helpers.
This study offers the best example of cross-family cooperation in sperm whales so far. Michael Weiss, research director at the Center for Whale Research, noted that more observations are needed to confirm if this behavior is typical.
Vocalizations and Future Goals
The researchers also published a paper in Scientific Reports. It describes the vocalizations captured during the birth. The team hopes to match this audio with their footage. This could help them understand what specific whale sounds mean.
Gero stated the ultimate goal is to understand beings "fundamentally different from us."
Deep Dive & References
Rare video shows female sperm whales working together during a birth Sperm whales help one another give birth, new study finds - Scientific American Sperm whale birth video - National Geographic Unprecedented footage shows sperm whales joining forces to help newborn calf - Science Scientists capture the first known footage of sperm whales headbutting - Smithsonian Magazine Project CETI Shane Gero Jeremy Goldbogen David Gruber Alaa Maalouf Michael Weiss
