Humpback Mother Appears to Mourn Stillborn Calf in Rare Video

A humpback whale mother was captured on video appearing to mourn her stillborn calf. The footage shows the adult staying close to the lifeless newborn, nudging it and moving slowly alongside it for several minutes. Observers described the behavior as grief-like and called the scene heartbreaking. Marine biologists noted that such close contact after a birth loss is extremely rare in cetaceans, making the video valuable for studying possible emotional responses in whales. The clip was shared by CBS News and quickly picked up by outlets including The Guardian, New Scientist, People.com and Phys.org, all highlighting the unusual nature of the encounter. Researchers emphasized that while the video suggests mourning, scientific consensus on animal grief remains unsettled, and more data are needed to confirm whether the behavior reflects true sorrow or instinctual care. The sighting adds to a growing collection of rare whale observations that could help shape future studies on cetacean social bonds and stress responses.