The sight of a mother blue whale nursing her calf underwater has been captured on camera for the first time during their annual migration of 5,000 kilometers.
A calf blue whale nursing from its mother. (Video: Angel Lai/Insiders Divers).
Divers captured this unique footage off the coast of Timor-Leste in Southeast Asia during a scientific program led by the Australian National University (ANU), as reported by IFL Science on July 5. The program has been studying blue whales in this marine area since 2006.
The calf does not cling to its mother while nursing. Instead, the mother blue whale releases milk into the water, allowing her calf to swim and drink.
The mother and calf featured in the video are undertaking their annual migration of 5,000 kilometers between southern Australia and the Banda Sea near eastern Indonesia. This marine area is considered a “hotspot” for whales, where blue whales, pygmy sperm whales, short-finned pilot whales, melon-headed whales, and six species of dolphins frequently pass through. It is also home to a significant number of sharks and turtles. The ocean channels deeper than 3,000 meters in this region serve as a “migration highway” for marine animals traveling between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
“The deep waters near the coast of Timor-Leste, especially the Ombai-Wetar strait along this country’s northern coastline, are among the most accessible and best locations in the world to study blue whales. From newborn calves nursing to adults courting each other, the waters of Timor-Leste provide researchers with the first images of the private lives of one of the largest yet most elusive animals on Earth,” said Associate Professor Karen Edyvane at ANU.
The blue whale is the largest animal ever to exist on Earth.
The appearance of a calf near Timor-Leste is significant as it indicates that this area plays a crucial role in the breeding and early life stages of blue whales. “This evidence suggests that this area is not only an important feeding ground for blue whales but also vital for their breeding process. So far, the timing, location, and methods of blue whale reproduction remain a mystery,” said Dr. Elanor Bell, a researcher at the Australian Antarctic Division.
With lengths of up to 33 meters, the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is the largest animal ever to inhabit the Earth. They are also the heaviest animals ever recorded, weighing up to 270 tons.
Scientists estimate that centuries ago, there were over 350,000 blue whales living in the oceans. However, widespread whaling in the 19th and early 20th centuries led to a dramatic decline in their numbers. Today, there are no more than 25,000 individuals left. Although still considered an endangered species, there is evidence that blue whales are experiencing a strong recovery, with their global population on the rise.
