Weeping whales: Stillborn humpback whale grieving documented (2026-09-whales-stillborn-humpback-whale-grieving.html) () (https://phys.org/) (../manifest.json) (https://phys.org/search/) (All news stories) (https://phys.org/rss-feed/) (Spotlight news only) (https://phys.org/rss-feed/breaking/) (Feature stories) (https://phys.org/rss-feed/editorials/) (../favicon.ico) (../../phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/favicons/favicon.svg) (../../phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/favicons/favicon-96x96.png) (../../phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/favicons/web-app-manifest-192x192.png) (../../phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/favicons/web-app-manifest-512x512.png) (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/favicons/apple-touch-icon.png) (../../phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/css/libs.3158620532.css) (../../phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/css/style.151879444.css) (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg) (../../scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2025/humpback-whale-2.jpg)  (https://phys.org/) (Phys.org)     Topics   (https://phys.org/weekly-news/) Week's top  (https://phys.org/latest-news/) Latest news  (https://phys.org/unread-news/) Unread news  (2026-09-whales-stillborn-humpback-whale-grieving.html#) Subscribe   (Search) (0) (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#search)     (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#search)     (2026-09-whales-stillborn-humpback-whale-grieving.html#) (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#icon_account)    Science X Account (login) (1) (https://phys.org/news/2026-09-whales-stillborn-humpback-whale-grieving.html)   (email)     (password)   Sign In  Sign in with (https://sciencex.com/profile/sm-login-redirect/fb/) (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#logo_fb)    (https://sciencex.com/profile/sm-login-redirect/google/) (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#logo_google)    (https://sciencex.com/profile/sm-login-redirect/apple/) (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#logo_apple)     (https://sciencex.com/profile/pwdreset/) Forget Password?  (https://sciencex.com/profile/register/) Not a member? Sign up   (https://sciencex.com/help/account/) Learn more                (https://phys.org/nanotech-news/) Nanotechnology  (https://phys.org/physics-news/) Physics  (https://phys.org/space-news/) Astronomy & Space  (https://phys.org/earth-news/) Earth  (https://phys.org/chemistry-news/) Chemistry  (https://phys.org/biology-news/) Biology  (https://phys.org/science-news/) Other Sciences  (https://medicalxpress.com/) (Medical Xpress) Medicine   (https://techxplore.com/) (Tech Xplore) Technology             (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#icon_close)     share this!  (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#icon_fb_news)   Share   (2026-09-whales-stillborn-humpback-whale-grieving.html#) (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#icon_twitter-x)   Tweet   (2026-09-whales-stillborn-humpback-whale-grieving.html#) (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#icon_linkedin)   Share   (mailto:) (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#icon_mail_news)   Email     (https://phys.org/) Home   (https://phys.org/biology-news/) Biology   (https://phys.org/biology-news/plants-animals/) Plants & Animals    (https://phys.org/) Home   (https://phys.org/biology-news/) Biology   (https://phys.org/biology-news/ecology/) Ecology      (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#icon_addfav)     (https://phys.org/news/2026-09-whales-stillborn-humpback-whale-grieving.pdf) (Save as pdf file) (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#icon_pdf)     (Print) (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#icon_print)        (https://phys.org/archive/16-09-2026/) (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#icon_clock)    September 16, 2026       Weeping whales: Stillborn humpback whale grieving documented by (http://www.griffith.edu.au/) Griffith University  edited by (https://sciencex.com/help/editorial-team/) Gaby Clark , 																								reviewed by (https://sciencex.com/help/editorial-team/) Robert Egan   (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#check-mark)   Editors' notes   This article has been reviewed according to Science X's (https://sciencex.com/help/editorial-process/) editorial process and (https://sciencex.com/help/editorial-standards/) policies . (https://sciencex.com/help/editorial-team/) Editors have highlighted
														the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:   fact-checked   trusted source   proofread      (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#icon_clipboard)   The GIST    (https://google.com/preferences/source?q=https%3A%2F%2Fphys.org%2F)        Add as preferred source      (humpback whale) (Credit: Elianne Dipp from Pexels) Credit: Elianne Dipp from Pexels     Humpback whale mothers may experience grief when their calves die, a rare research observation led by Griffith University and Sea World Foundation has found.   In 2025, a female humpback whale—along with an escort whale—was observed off the southern Gold Coast after giving birth to a presumed deceased calf. She remained with it for several hours and possibly even days. Dr. Olaf Meynecke, from Griffith University's Whales and Climate Research Program, said postmortem attentive behavior in cetaceans had been documented predominantly among toothed whales and delphinids (known as odontocetes), but remained largely absent from research published on baleen whales, like humpback whales. "Unlike reports of toothed whales where mothers have been observed lifting their dead calves to the surface, this humpback whale mother showed prolonged postmortem behavior and attention toward her deceased calf under the surface," Meynecke said.       *May cause distress to viewers* This video, taken in 2025 off the southern Queensland coast in Australia, shows a humpback whale mother returning to the seafloor to her stillborn calf. Credit: Andy Mulville  A rare view beneath the surface "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 behaviors were consistent with caregiving or nurturing actions and postmortem attentive responses documented in socially complex mammals, and indicated an inherent, strong maternal attachment to the calf." Cetaceans are among the most charismatic marine species receiving widespread public attention. Rescue boat Capt. Andrew Mulville from Sea World Foundation, who witnessed the event, 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 behavior was unusual. "It was definitely not what I was expecting to see out at sea that day."   A case that expands the record Meynecke said this observation in 2025 and others involving deceased calves were incredibly sad, rare and added to the limited current understanding of the cognitive and emotional dimensions of death-related responses in baleen (filter-feeding) cetaceans. "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 postmortem behavior in large whales," he said. "Understanding how nonhuman animals responded to death provides insight into their emotional lives, social bonds and cognitive capacities." The study "First documentation of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) postmortem attendance of a stillborn" has been published in Discover Animals . More information  Discover Animals (2026). (https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s44338-026-00232-9) DOI: 10.1007/s44338-026-00232-9   Key concepts (https://phys.org/concepts/animal-behavior/) animal behavior  (https://phys.org/concepts/bio/mammalia/cetacea/balaenopteridae/) rorquals  (https://phys.org/concepts/bio/mammalia/cetacea/balaenopteridae/megaptera/) humpback whales   Provided by (https://phys.org/partners/griffith-university/) Griffith University (http://www.griffith.edu.au/) (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#icon_open)      Who's behind this story?  (https://sciencex.com/help/editorial-team/gaby-clark/) (Gaby Clark)  (https://sciencex.com/help/editorial-team/gaby-clark/) Gaby Clark  MA in English, copy editor since 2021 with experience in higher education and health content. Dedicated to trustworthy science news. (https://sciencex.com/help/editorial-team/gaby-clark/) Full profile →     (https://sciencex.com/help/editorial-team/robert-egan/) (Robert Egan)  (https://sciencex.com/help/editorial-team/robert-egan/) Robert Egan  Bachelor's in mathematical biology, Master's in creative writing. Well-traveled with unique perspectives on science and language. (https://sciencex.com/help/editorial-team/robert-egan/) Full profile →      Citation :
												Weeping whales: Stillborn humpback whale grieving documented (2026, September 16)
												retrieved 20 September 2026
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This rare documentation of postmortem attendance in a baleen whale is consistent with prolonged maternal caregiving behavior and expands evidence of death-related responses in cetaceans. This summary was automatically generated using LLM. (https://sciencex.com/help/ai-disclaimer/) Full disclaimer        Let us know if there is a problem with our content (https://phys.b-cdn.net/tmpl/v6/img/svg/sprite.svg#icon_close)     Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page.
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