Humpback whale seen grieving dead calf in rare footage: "Heartbreaking to watch"
- September 16, 2026 / 1:55 PM EDT / CBS/AFP Add CBS News on Google A female humpback whale has been documented apparently grieving a stillborn calf in new research released Wednesday, offering rare insights into the complex emotions of the sea-dwelling mammals.
- The footage, taken off Australia's Gold Coast last year, shows a female humpback whale staying close to the dead calf as it lies motionless on the seafloor.
- Accompanied by a companion, the whale holds eye contact with the animal, touching it with its head and fin.
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- September 16, 2026 / 1:55 PM EDT / CBS/AFP Add CBS News on Google A female humpback whale has been documented apparently grieving a stillborn calf in new research released Wednesday, offering rare insights into the complex emotions of the sea-dwelling mammals.
- The footage, taken off Australia's Gold Coast last year, shows a female humpback whale staying close to the dead calf as it lies motionless on the seafloor.
- Accompanied by a companion, the whale holds eye contact with the animal, touching it with its head and fin.
Sources: CBS News