Researchers capture first-ever underwater footage of blue whale nursing its calf on a 5000 km trip

A mother’s love knows no bounds, regardless of species or habitat. This was beautifully demonstrated by a pygmy blue whale, captured on camera for the first time nursing her calf underwater, as shared by Insider Divers on YouTube. Initially seen swimming alone, the mother whale was later shown with her calf latched onto her, feeding as they journeyed through the waters. The touching footage was filmed off the coast of Timor-Leste in Southeast Asia by a group dedicated to studying blue whales, reports IFL Science.

The video documents the whales on their 5,000-kilometer (3,100-mile) journey between southern Australia and the Banda Sea near eastern Indonesia. The group revealed astonishing facts about the young whale, noting that the calf drinks up to 200 liters of milk and gains about 100 kg (220 lbs) per day. No wonder they grow to be among the largest creatures on Earth! The ocean area where the mother and calf were filmed is known as a “cetacean hotspot,” frequently offering sightings of various whales and marine life.

With depths of 3000 meters, this waterbody serves as a highway for sea animals traveling between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Karen Edyvane, an associate professor at Australian National University (ANU) and project leader, provided more details in a press release. She said, “Timor-Leste’s deep, nearshore waters, particularly in the narrow Ombai-Wetar Strait along the north coast of the country, provide one of the most accessible and best locations for blue whale research in the world.” She added that the area's vast potential and depth offer a rich landscape for studying various types of marine life and their behaviors.

“From newborn calves and nursing mothers to amorous adults in courtship, the waters of Timor-Leste are providing blue whale scientists with some of our first glimpses into the private lives of one of the world’s largest but most elusive animals,” Edyvane added. An even more precious and remarkable aspect of this sighting is that the region is especially crucial to the reproduction and early life of the sea life. Another researcher on the study, Dr. Elanor Bell, pointed out how the footage has yielded so much scope for further understanding the species.

She emphasized the role these waters play in the reproduction of sea creatures. “This evidence suggests that these waters are not only important foraging areas for blue whales but also are critical for reproduction. Until now, it has been a mystery when, where and how blue whales reproduce.” Edyvane is pleased with the sighting they stumbled upon. “Our decade-long project has documented some of the lesser-known intimate reproductive behaviors of blue whales, some for the very first time. It’s very exciting,” she remarked.