The world has never witnessed the reproduction of “giants” like blue whales in the ocean and rare terrestrial creatures like the saola.
Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias)
Drone footage of a newborn great white shark. (Video: TheMalibuArtist).
In 2024, the world was treated to a rare video when a drone captured what is believed to be a newborn great white shark for the first time. The great white shark is the largest fish in the world, preying on larger animals like seals, but observing their reproduction is not straightforward. The footage provides the closest evidence humans have regarding the origins of young great white sharks.
The creature in the video measures only 1.5 meters in length, aligning with estimates for newborn great whites. It appears to be shedding a white layer from its body while swimming. While it cannot be ruled out that this young shark has a skin condition, it is also possible that it is expelling substances from the womb after birth. Observations of several large sharks, potentially pregnant, in the days leading up to this also support this view.
The waters from offshore Santa Barbara, California, to northern Baja California, Mexico, might serve as a nursery for great white sharks. However, at this time, no one has ever observed the process of a great white shark giving birth.
Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)
Whale Shark – the largest fish in the world. (Photo: Animalgraphic).
The title of the largest fish on the planet belongs to the whale shark, a “giant” that feeds on tiny planktonic creatures, growing up to about 20 meters in length and weighing 20 tons. According to the Galapagos Whale Shark Project, 21 newborn whale sharks have been spotted in the wild, but no one has ever witnessed this species giving birth.
Ningaloo Reef in Australia could potentially be a breeding ground for whale sharks as they gather in large numbers each year following coral spawning and phytoplankton blooming. Finding accurate answers about these massive creatures is even more challenging because they sometimes dive to depths beyond the reach of tracking devices, up to 2,000 meters.
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus)
The largest mammal on Earth also evades human curiosity when it comes to reproduction. However, experts have recorded them performing impressive mating dances. During these displays, a group of male blue whales pursues a female, using their massive bodies in an attempt to outcompete rivals.
Rare observations of blue whales include instances of them nursing their young. A newborn blue whale is already quite large, weighing around 2,200 to 2,700 kg, according to the Marine Mammal Center. Throughout their lifetime, blue whales visit every ocean except the Arctic Ocean. Although the birthing process has never been observed, scientists believe blue whales migrate to warm waters off Central America to give birth.
Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis)
Very few people have ever seen a living saola. (Photo: Bill Robichaud/Global Wildlife Conservation).
While marine creatures can escape human tracking in the vast oceans, mysteries also exist on land, such as that of the saola or “Asian unicorn.” This is one of the rarest animals in the world and belongs to the Bovidae family.
Saola are found in Laos and Vietnam, along the Annamite Range, where they live deep within the forests. Humans have learned about their existence through camera traps, bones found in villages with characteristic horns, and local information, but no biologist has been fortunate enough to encounter them in the wild, nor has anyone ever seen them give birth.
Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)
Snow leopards have been bred in zoos, helping scientists better understand their reproductive processes. However, finding the breeding grounds of this elusive species in the wild is nearly impossible. This mysterious animal lives in remote high-altitude regions and is extremely difficult to detect due to its clever camouflage, blending seamlessly into rocky landscapes.
The Snow Leopard Trust and Panthera have identified two breeding dens after monitoring female leopards with radio collars. Both are located at high elevations in rocky cliffs, one in an artificial shelter and the other in a narrow rock crevice.
Javan Rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus)
The Javan rhino, one of the five remaining rhino species on Earth, is among the rarest large animals in the world. Only males have horns, which are relatively short and stout. They are currently classified as critically endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List, but there is good news: cameras have captured images of newborn wild rhinos earlier this year.
The entire population of wild Javan rhinos lives in Ujung Kulon National Park on the island of Java, Indonesia. Therefore, even though no one has seen them with their own eyes, scientists know this is where they give birth. Providing space for wildlife is crucial for their health, and the young rhinos in Ujung Kulon are monitored remotely with the support of camera traps.
