First filmed sperm whale birth shows cooperative support by females

Insights

• Drones recorded 11 adult females coordinating to assist a calf during a half hour July 2023 birth in the Caribbean.
• Adults took turns keeping the newborn lifted at the surface because newborn sperm whales are not buoyant and cannot breathe unaided.
• Researchers say this is the first documented evidence of birth assistance in non-primates.
• Short-finned pilot whales arrived 18 minutes after the birth and the sperm whales showed defensive behaviors, including placing adults between the calf and the intruders and aggressive displays.
• Underwater recordings showed clear shifts in vocal patterns at the onset of labour and during interactions with pilot whales, which returned to baseline after the critical period.
• The team confirmed the calf survived its first year and plans further field visits to determine its sex and monitor development.