Rare Footage Captures Intimate Sperm Whale Birth

Scientists have captured the first video recording of a sperm whale birth, providing a rare look at the social cooperation and maternal support systems of these deep-sea mammals. The footage, recorded off the coast of Dominica in July 2023, reveals that sperm whales employ a collective effort to ensure the survival of the newborn calf.

The observation was made by researchers from Project CETI, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the study of sperm whale communication. The team used two aerial drones to document a 34-minute birthing process involving a mother named Rounder.

Cooperative Birthing Behaviors

The footage demonstrates that the birthing process is not a solitary event. Rounder was aided by 10 other sperm whales, the majority of whom were female. Notably, the researchers found that not all of the assisting whales were kin, suggesting that the instinct to provide aid transcends immediate family ties.

These adult females acted as midwives, surrounding the laboring mother to provide support. This level of cooperation is a critical component of the species’ social structure, as it allows the group to protect the mother and the calf during a highly vulnerable period.

Post-Birth Support and Survival

The most critical phase of support occurred immediately after the delivery. Because newborn sperm whale calves are prone to sinking in the first few hours of their lives, they require assistance to reach the surface and breathe air.

The group of whales worked together for several hours, taking turns lifting the newborn to the surface. Adult female sperm whales functioned as a raft for the calf, maintaining its buoyancy until the newborn was capable of swimming on its own.

Scientific Significance of the Findings

Observing the birth of a sperm whale in the wild is an extremely rare event due to the vastness and depth of the oceans where these creatures reside. For approximately 50 years, scientists and seafarers have struggled to observe this elemental part of the species’ life cycle.

Prior to this recording, there had been only a handful of scientific studies describing sperm whale births, and only one published report which was based on observations made from a distance after the event had occurred. While there were previous accounts of sperm whales helping one another during birth, none had been captured on video until the July 2023 event.

Not only did we capture such an amazing dataset, but we actually knew each of these whales

David Gruber, marine biologist and lead of Project CETI

Because the researchers were already familiar with the individual whales in this population, they were able to use computational analysis to define each whale’s position in the footage. This allowed the team to specifically tease out the distinct role each individual played during the birthing process.

Research Methodology

The discovery was the result of a fortuitous encounter. Shane Gero, the Biology Lead for Project CETI, was on a sailboat off the coast of Dominica when he and his colleagues encountered the whale in labor. The team was equipped with hydrophones and cameras, enabling them to capture the event in more intimate detail than ever before.

The findings were reported on March 26, 2026, in the journal Science. The data collected before, during, and after the birth is now providing scientists with a new window into the complex social lives, communication patterns, and cooperative instincts of sperm whales.