When a sperm whale is born in the open ocean, it takes its first breath upon reaching the surface. Only then is the birth complete. A team of scientists working on Project CETI observed that, during a female sperm whale’s labor off the coast of Dominica, an entire group had gathered around her. The study was published in Scientific Reports. (here the link to the paper)..
The researchers documented an exceptionally rare birth using drones, underwater recordings, and photographs. Eleven sperm whales were present: eight adults and three calves. The birth lasted approximately 34 minutes. Shortly afterward, the newborn surfaced beside its mother’s head. The adults gathered closely around the calf, touching and supporting it, pushing and lifting it above the water. The group remained clustered around the newborn as it began adapting to life at the ocean’s surface.
The most surprising detail concerns who took part. Analysis of the images and the social relationships among the whales indicates that support came from females belonging to two different maternal lineages, not all of them closely related. Some belonged to groups that tend to separate under other circumstances. One female from the mother’s family appears to have taken the lead in assisting with the birth. Afterward, the others took turns supporting the newborn. This form of cooperation during childbirth has so far been documented primarily in primates.
Vocalizations also changed at key moments, including the onset of labor and the arrival of pilot whales. Sperm whales communicate through sequences of clicks known as codas. codasHere, the researchers detected variations in their vocalization patterns, but they cannot yet determine what information these clicks conveyed.
A single birth cannot tell us how sperm whales always behave. It does, however, offer an exceptional glimpse into a society that is difficult to observe, revealing social bonds that, at least on this occasion, extended beyond immediate family members. It also shows how drones and social network analysis can bring to light behaviours that have, until now, remained beneath the surface.
