Humpback Whale Mother Observed Attending Stillborn Calf Off Queensland in Rare First

On July 17, 2025, off the coast of Queensland, Australia, a mother humpback whale was seen repeatedly approaching her stillborn calf, possibly marking the first documented stillbirth for this species. Andrew Mulville, a rescue boat captain with the Sea World Foundation, observed the whales near Palm Beach Reef. He captured footage showing the calf resting on the ocean floor, while the mother swam down to touch it and lingered nearby. Unlike typical behavior where humpbacks bring live calves to the surface, this was not the case. Researchers warn against interpreting the behavior as human-like, as only around 20 humpback births have been recorded, making stillbirths extremely rare and challenging to witness.