Stunning Aerial Footage: Whale Calf's Birth Filmed Near Australian Coast
On 6 August, news emerged that drone pilot Alexander Forrest had filmed a humpback whale giving birth off the coast of New South Wales on 28 July. The aerial video marks the first time anywhere that a live humpback whale birth has been filmed from above. According to the Organisation for Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA), it ranks as only the fourth humpback birth ever recorded on video.
Rare Encounter and Why It Matters
The encounter took place roughly 700 metres offshore at Kingscliff, on the northern coast of New South Wales. Forrest spotted a female humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) lagging behind her pod and moving exceptionally slowly. The footage shows the newborn calf rising through blood-red water to take its first breath, while the mother turns to reunite with it.
“Seeing this kind of moment in the ocean is incredibly rare,” Forrest said. “This is a very seldom documented encounter.”
He also underlined the importance of the recording: “This is the first drone video showing the birth of a live humpback whale. It reveals the critical first minutes of the calf’s life and shows how a humpback mother behaves toward her newborn.”
An ORRCA spokesperson said the birth symbolises successful conservation efforts, with the humpback population off New South Wales having recovered to almost 50,000 animals. “It represents one of the most powerful conservation achievements in history,” Forrest added.
- The mother whale trailed behind her pod during the birth.
- A humpback calf nurses for 11 months.
- A newborn weighs between 1 and 1.5 tonnes and measures 3 to 5 metres long.
- Calves gain about 45 kilograms each day.
- Humpback whales can migrate as far as 8,000 kilometres in one direction.
The footage will now be analysed for a peer-reviewed publication in a scientific journal. “Humpback whales seem to have an incredible maternal bond with their offspring,” Forrest concluded. Scientists at the National Antarctic Science Centre also said unique images like these allow a deeper understanding of humpback whale life.
This event highlights the growing role of drones in conservation and marine research. It also offers a hopeful example of environmental protection in Australia, showing that recovery is possible when dedicated conservation programmes are put in place.