Whales grieve just like humans: Heartbreaking video shows a humpback mother watching over her stillborn calf

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 07:00 EDT, 16 September 2026 | Updated: 07:07 EDT, 16 September 2026 A heartbreaking video has revealed how whales grieve just like humans. The footage, filmed off the southern Gold Coast last year, shows a female humpback whale who had given birth to a presumed deceased calf. Along with an escort whale, the mother remained with the calf for several hours and possibly even days.According to researchers from Griffith University, this suggests humpback whale mothers may experience grief when their calves die. 'This humpback whale mother showed prolonged post–mortem behaviour and attention towards her deceased calf under the surface,' said lead author, Dr Olaf Meynecke.'She remained close to the calf, maintaining eye contact and positioning herself next to her calf over several hours and maybe even days.'These observed behaviours were consistent with care–giving or nurturing actions and post–mortem attentive responses documented in socially complex mammals, and indicated an inherent, strong maternal attachment to the calf.' The footage, filmed off the southern Gold Coast last year, shows a female humpback whale who had given birth to a presumed deceased calf. Along with an escort whale, the mother remained with the calf for several hours and possibly even daysPrevious studies have shown that toothed whales and delphinids show attentive behaviours after the death of a loved one. However, this marks the first time such behaviour has been recorded in a baleen whale. The heartbreaking interaction was witnessed by Rescue Boat Captain Andrew Mulville from Sea World Foundation.He said: 'When I actually worked out what was happening, I was totally surprised.'At first sight, I thought it was just two whales resting on the surface, but their behaviour was unusual.'It was definitely not what I was expecting to see out at sea that day.'The researchers hope this observation will help to understand how other animals process grief. Dr Meynecke added: 'This case study highlights the need for continued systematic documentation of rare neonatal mortality events to better understand the cognitive, emotional, and evolutionary significance of post-mortem behaviour in large whales.'Understanding how non-human animals responded to death provides insight into their emotional lives, social bonds, and cognitive capacities.'The news comes shortly after research revealed that cats show key signs of mourning after one of their friends passes away. In the study, researchers from Oakland University enlisted 412 cat owners, who were surveyed on the immediate and long-term changes seen in a surviving cat, following the death of another pet. The results revealed that some cats showed key indicators of grief, including changes in sleeping, eating, playing, seeking attention, hiding, and spending time alone. However, the team found that these behaviours varied depending on the cat's relationship with the deceased animal. 'The longer the cat had lived with the deceased animal, the more the caregivers reported increases in attention-seeking following the death,' the researchers explained in the study. HUMPBACK WHALE POPULATIONS AND THEIR THREATSHumpback whales live in oceans around the world. They travel incredible distances every year and have one of the longest migrations of any mammal on the planet. Some populations swim 5,000 miles from tropical breeding grounds to colder, plentiful feeding grounds - this is why it is difficult to estimate population size, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).Of the 14 distinct populations, 12 are estimated to number more than 2,000 humpback whales each and two are estimated to number fewer than 2,000. Humpback whales live in oceans around the world. They travel incredible distances every year and have one of the longest migrations of any mammal on the planetSome populations (such as those off eastern and western Australia) are believed to number in excess of 20,000 animals - a remarkable recovery given that the same populations were almost eradicated by whaling almost 60 years ago. By contrast, the smallest known population is one which inhabits the Arabian Sea year-round, and may number as few as 80 individuals. Threats to humpback whales include decline in food like krill due to a combination of climate change and industrial-scale fishing.Humpback whales can become entangled by many different gear types including moorings, traps, pots or gillnets. Once entangled, if they are able to move the gear, the whale may drag and swim with attached gear for long distances, ultimately resulting in fatigue, compromised feeding ability, or severe injury. There is evidence to suggest that most humpback whales experience entanglement over the course of their lives, but are often able to shed the gear on their own. Inadvertent vessel strikes can injure or kill humpback whales. Humpback whales are vulnerable to vessel strikes throughout their range, but the risk is much higher in some coastal areas with heavy ship traffic. Underwater noise threatens whale populations, interrupting their normal behaviour and driving them away from areas important to their survival. Sound has been shown to increase stress hormones in their system and mask the natural sounds humpback whales require to communicate and locate prey.