“It was extraordinary – my adrenaline was through the roof” says photographer who captured world-first drone footage of rare marine event
A photographer recorded the “extraordinary” moment a humpback whale gave birth to its calf, in what is believed to be a world-first drone feat
Photographer Alexander Forrest captured world-first drone footage of a rare marine event on July 28, off the north coast of New South Wales, Australia. While observing migrating humpback whales for the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA), he noticed an unusual behavior from one of the whales.
"Between the southbound and northbound migrators, one whale stood out – a lone adult, travelling in the shallows at a very slow speed," he stated on Instagram. As the female humpback rose toward the surface, he hit record, hoping to capture this unique behavior. The footage showcased the moment the whale delivered her calf, with a plume of blood erupting from her as the pale calf jetted to the surface taking its first breaths, reunited with its mother.
Forrest described his adrenaline surging during the extraordinary experience, which can be seen in the captured footage. After witnessing this rare sight, he contacted ORRCA, and fellow drone pilots joined the team to further document the mother and calf's behavior until sunset. This sighting, only the fourth ever recorded, will aid research into humpback whale reproduction, maternal behavior, and the early stages of a calf's life.
Forrest expressed his privilege and satisfaction in capturing such a remarkable moment, knowing it could contribute to marine mammal science for years to come.
Written by urgent.news from Digital Camera World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
