Drone Pilot Records First Aerial Footage of Humpback Whale Giving Birth
Alexander Forrest, a videographer, has made an incredible discovery: he filmed the first-ever aerial footage of a humpback whale giving birth close to New South Wales. While he was capturing the annual migration, he noticed a lone adult whale, initially thinking it was just resting. To his amazement, the whale surfaced and gave birth to a calf that quickly swam to take its first breaths. The water turned red, leading Forrest to worry about a predator, but then the light gray calf appeared. He called the experience "extraordinary." Afterward, he teamed up with ORRCA and two drone operators to document the mother caring for her newborn, making this the fourth complete record of a humpback whale birth and the first from the air.
Key facts
- Alexander Forrest captured first-known aerial footage of a humpback whale giving birth.
- The footage was taken off the coast of New South Wales during the annual whale migration.
- The calf is seen taking its first breaths after birth.
- The water turned bright red, initially suggesting a predator attack.
- Forrest contacted ORRCA, which sent two drone operators to document the mother's care.
- The footage will undergo scientific analysis and support a peer-reviewed note.
- ORRCA says this is the fourth full documentation of a humpback whale birth and the first from the air.
- Forrest described the event as 'extraordinary' and said he felt like a spectator.
Entities
Artists
- Alexander Forrest
Institutions
- Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA)
- PetaPixel
Locations
- New South Wales
- Australia