A female sperm whale holds her newborn calf above the water until it can swim on its own.
Project CETI
The recent birth of a sperm whale was notably supported by ten other females within its pod, marking an unprecedented instance of assisted childbirth outside of primate species.
In July 2023, researchers monitoring a sperm whale pod in the Caribbean since 2005 noticed the eleven females gathering at the surface. Remarkably, they were flying a drone at the time and captured this event on record.
As the birth commenced, the calf’s flukes gradually revealed themselves over a 30-minute period during which the accompanying females coordinated in a synchronized formation to ensure the safety of both the mother and her calf.
Upon the calf’s arrival, the female whales circled and took turns watching over it, keeping it afloat to ensure it could breathe properly, as newborn sperm whales lack buoyancy and cannot stay at the surface by themselves for the initial hours.
This groundbreaking observation of assisted childbirth in non-primates was highlighted by Shane Gero, a team member at Project CETI in New York.
Such intricate behaviors were previously believed to be exclusive to humans but are now emerging in non-human species as well.
“Sperm whale societies thrive on strong female leadership,” Gero explains. “It’s fascinating to witness intergenerational support during childbirth among females, even those not related by blood.”
When a short-finned pilot whale approached approximately 18 minutes post-birth, the adult female sperm whales exhibited defensive behaviors.
The newborn sperm whale emerges from the water after giving birth, supported by an adult female.
Project CETI
“They consistently placed at least one adult whale between the newborn calf and the approaching pilot whale,” reports Giovanni Petri from Northeastern University London. “The adult females displayed aggression towards the pilot whale, changing direction and even ramming into it.”
Researchers deployed underwater audio recording devices to monitor the vocalizations of the sperm whales. Another study highlights the significance of these findings.
“The acoustics of this event were remarkable,” states Petri. “Statistically significant shifts in vocal patterns were noted during critical moments such as labor and interactions with the pilot whale.”
These behavioral changes were unlike the usual vocal shifts observed in the pod, returning to normalcy following the birth.
By merging audio analysis with observation, the researchers “established a connection between the behaviors of the sperm whales and their vocalizations,” Petri noted.
Gero also mentioned they have yet to determine the sex of the calf but expressed hope to see it thrive in the following months, and a name will be given if they encounter the calf again. They know, however, that it has survived the crucial first year, a period characterized by high calf mortality rates.
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Source: www.newscientist.com
