A whale’s first season at sea reveals more than just birth. They show a level of care, cooperation, and communication that scientists are only beginning to understand.
An international research group called Project CETI, also known as the Cetacean Translation Initiative, has reported one of the most detailed whale births ever recorded.
The incident took place near Dominica on July 8, 2023. Researchers took more than six hours of underwater sound and drone footage. The findings provide new insights into whale behavior.
Rarely see sperm whale birth
Sperm whale spawning is very difficult to see in the wild. Scientists have reported such incidents in less than 10 percent of whale species. This makes the new study very important.
A team of researchers followed these whales for more than 20 years. This long-term work helped to identify each individual at birth. The pictures show the full group of people gathered.
This group included grandmothers, mothers, sisters and daughters. Some women were related, while others were not. Even the whales who are not related to her joined in supporting your mother.
How whales help during birth
The study showed clear cooperation among the whales. Female whales supported their mother during childbirth. Some helped lift his body, while others guided the newborn calf up to breathe.
Each whale seemed to follow a certain role. This was not a random move. The research team used tools such as computer vision and network analysis to study these activities in detail.
The results provided the first empirical evidence that non-human primates and a few primates assist in reproduction in a consistent manner.
The discovery highlights how organized and savvy these marine animals are in critical situations.
Communication during critical moments
The second lesson focused on whale sounds. Sperm whales communicate using clicking patterns called codas. During birth, scientists noticed clear changes in these sounds.
Some patterns even show shapes like vowels. These changes occurred during the critical period of birth. This suggests that whales may use sound to coordinate actions or respond to what is happening around them.
Project CETI has been working to improve whale communication. This new proposal adds depth to that effort. It shows that communication can play an important role during major life events.
Deep social connection
The study suggests that helping at birth builds stronger social relationships. When one whale helps another, it makes the group trust each other. This support may be returned in the future.
Scientists believe that this behavior is very ancient. It may have existed for more than 36 million years. This means cooperation during birth may be a fundamental part of the whale community. These actions help maintain strong, stable social groups.
David Gruber, Founder and President of Project CETI and Distinguished Professor of Biology at New York University said: “These findings change the way we understand whale communities.
“What we’re seeing is deeply coordinated social care at one of life’s most vulnerable times.”
![Newborn sperm whale takes its first breath (bottom right highlighted by yellow box) as it swims towards its mother's head taken at 11:47. [00:01:15]. Note the blood from the birth still visible in the center of the image. Credit: Scientific Reports](https://magfod.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/1774854175_748_The-birth-of-a-Sperm-whale-recorded-on-video-for.webp.webp)
Trust between whales and researchers
Another important part of this study is the mutual trust between the whales and the scientists. The whales allowed the researchers to get a close look at the difficult times. This is rare in the country.
“This work speaks to the fact that longitudinal studies are important,” added researcher Dr. Diana Reiss of Hunter College, part of the City University of New York.
“When you get to know individual animals like the CETI team got to know this group of whales, the trust these whales have in their group is extraordinary.
Years of watching helped build this confidence. It allowed scientists to see time that is usually hidden in the ocean.
Family relationships of whale births
Birth also indicates strong family ties. The whale, known as Rounder, gave birth to her mother, Lady Oracle, and her daughter, Accra, nearby.
This means that three generations were present during that event. Each had a role to play in helping the mother and the newborn calf.
“This is the most detailed window we’ve ever had into one of the most important periods in a whale’s life,” said Shane Gero, lead biologist for Project CETI and scientist-in-residence at Carleton University.
Since this family has been studied for decades, we were able to see what the grandmother was doing, how our new sister behaved, and how everyone helped the mother and the newborn, placing this unusual birth in the midst of deep social and moral situations.”
What does this mean for science?
This discovery changes the way scientists view animal intelligence and social life. Sperm whales show planning, cooperation and communication during birth. These traits are often associated with humans and a few other animals.
The findings also raise new questions. How do whales learn these skills? How do sound patterns guide their actions? Project CETI will continue to explore these ideas.
This unusual phenomenon shows that life in the sea is more connected and complex than it seems at first.
Click here to watch Project CETI’s video of the sperm whale birth event…
The study was published in the journal Science.
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