The ocean, that vast and mysterious world, is full of wonders that never cease to amaze us. One such marvel was recently witnessed by the folks at Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari off the coast of Dana Point, California. On that unforgettable day, the ocean unveiled a spectacle of life that left everyone on board the boat gasping in awe: the birth of a gray whale calf, a moment that was, astonishingly, captured on camera.
As the boat ventured into the ocean, the crew and passengers noticed a pool of orange-redness in the water, initially mistaking it for a sign of predation. However, to their astonishment, it was the exact opposite – the beginning of a new life! An adult gray whale was spotted splashing around before the orange and red pool appeared and began to spread out. The onlookers watched, breathless, as the mother whale assisted her newborn in taking its first breaths. A sight so precious, it melted the hearts of everyone on board.
Alisa Schulman-Janiger of L.A.’s American Cetacean Society’s Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project explained the significance of these first moments in a calf’s life, illustrating how the calf bonds with his mother. The mom and calf were observed nuzzling faces, a touching display of affection. Since ocean mammals can’t smell, their skin is very sensitive, and they engage in a lot of physical contact to make up for that lost sense.
The passengers on the boat also observed as the 40 to 50-ft. mom swam under the 24-ft. boat, slightly lifting it up, and one passenger commented on how “floppy” the calf was. Schulman-Janiger explained that gray whale calves are born with soft or “floppy” flukes that become rigid within 24 hours, which allows them to swim forward. They need to be guided and pushed along by their mothers before their flukes firm up.
This miraculous event was especially meaningful because the gray whale population is declining. The number of eastern North Pacific gray whales has decreased from an estimated 27,000 to only 16,650 in recent years, a steep decrease that has been deemed an “Unusual Mortality Event.” Many of the whales that are dying are adult females, but, as Schulman-Janiger noted, “nobody knows why.”
Witnessing the birth of a gray whale calf, a species facing a mysterious decline, is a poignant reminder of the beauty and fragility of life. It is a call to action for all of us to do our part in conserving and protecting the magnificent creatures that inhabit our oceans. Remember to respect and cherish the wildlife around us, and consider supporting organizations that work towards the conservation of marine life. And, if you are considering bringing a pet into your home, remember to “adopt, don’t shop.”
Let us all be inspired by the miracle of life, and let it fuel our passion and commitment to make a difference in the world.
