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Humpback whale exhibits mourning-like behavior near Australia
Marine biologists have documented a significant instance of behavior resembling mourning in a humpback whale off the Gold Coast, Australia. Using underwater cameras near Palm Beach Reef, researchers observed a female whale staying close to her deceased calf for nearly two hours, making physical contact with its body using her head and pectoral fins, and attempting eye contact.
Olaf Meynecke of Griffith University, who co-authored a study with whale rescuer Andrew Mulville, noted that the duration and nature of the contact were surprising. The researchers stated this is the first detailed documentation of such behavior in a humpback whale. While the mother did not attempt to bring the calf to the surface, the study raises questions about the emotional states of marine mammals. Similar mourning-like behaviors have been noted in other species, including elephants, chimpanzees, and orcas.
Entities
Andrew Mulville · Gold Coast · Griffith University · Olaf Meynecke · Palm Beach Reef
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 6 SOURCES] The whale sought physical contact and eye contact with the dead calf. courage-lounge.de · www.zeit.de · www.nordbayern.de · www.op-online.de · www.volksfreund.de · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] This is the first detailed documented case of this specific behavior in a humpback whale. courage-lounge.de · www.zeit.de · www.nordbayern.de · www.op-online.de · www.volksfreund.de · +1 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] Similar mourning-like behaviors have been observed in elephants, chimpanzees, and orcas. www.nordbayern.de · www.op-online.de · www.volksfreund.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de
- [● 6 SOURCES] The duration of the humpback whale's behavior lasted for hours and potentially days. courage-lounge.de · www.zeit.de · www.nordbayern.de · www.op-online.de · www.volksfreund.de · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] The mother whale did not attempt to bring the deceased calf to the surface. courage-lounge.de · www.zeit.de · www.nordbayern.de · www.op-online.de · www.volksfreund.de · +1 more