This 2023 image shows a newborn sperm whale born off the coast of the Caribbean island of Dominica.
“This was just really a special event,” said study co-author David Gruber with the Cetacean Translation Initiative, or Project CETI.
After observing the birth, the scientists created software to analyze exactly what was going on. They chronicled the sights and sounds in two studies published Thursday in the journals Scientific Reports and Science.
What struck the researchers was how many mother, sister and daughter whales united to support the new calf, even ones that weren’t related. Sperm whales live in close-knit, female-led societies, and the new observations show how those dynamics persist in the animals’ most significant and vulnerable moments.
“It’s amazing to think about how, when faced with this impossible challenge, these animals come together to succeed,” said study co-author Shane Gero, also with Project CETI.
Scientists also noticed that the whales made different sounds during key moments of the birth, including slower, longer sets of clicks. These noises could have aided with communication, helping the animals sync up for the birthing effort.
The findings unearth a trove of questions. How did the group of whales form in the first place? How did they know to join?
It’s unclear when scientists might figure out the answers, especially when video footage is scarce and so hard to secure. But the new findings can at least partially clue us into the whales’ hidden conversations.
“I think it’s just exciting to think about the social lives of these animals,” said biologist Susan Parks with Syracuse University, who wasn’t involved with the new studies.
Fragile, fierce and fleeting: AP’s best animal and nature photos of 2025
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