{
  "id": 259508,
  "title": "“It was extraordinary – my adrenaline was through the roof” says photographer who captured world-first drone footage of rare marine event",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/it-was-extraordinary-my-adrenaline-was-through-the-roof-says",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-07T09:10:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Digital Camera World",
    "slug": "digital-camera-world",
    "url": "https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/photography/nature-and-wildlife-photography/it-was-extraordinary-my-adrenaline-was-through-the-roof-says-photographer-who-captured-world-first-drone-footage-of-rare-marine-event"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "Photographer Alexander Forrest has made history by becoming the first to capture world-first drone footage of a rare marine event – the birth of a humpback whale calf. While conducting aerial observations of migrating humpback whales off the north coast of New South Wales, Australia, Forrest noticed an unusual behavior from a lone adult female whale. As she rose toward the surface, Forrest hit record, capturing the incredible moment when the female humpback delivered her calf. In a statement, Forrest described his adrenaline being \"through the roof,\" as the footage showed a plume of blood erupting from the mother, followed by her pale calf \"jetting\" to the surface to take its first breaths before reuniting with her mother. This unprecedented footage, only the fourth recorded sighting of a humpback whale giving birth, will aid research into the species' reproduction, maternal behavior, and the early stages of a calf's life.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}