The rare event of a humpback whale giving birth has been documented for the first time by drone footage captured earlier this week off the coast of New South Wales, Australia.
The video, filmed on Tuesday, July 31, 2026, at 3:12 PM EDT, shows the water turning bloody before a newborn calf emerges. Wildlife photographer Alexander Forrest, who was documenting whales during their northbound migration, noticed an adult female exhibiting unusual behavior. He observed the whale moving at a slow speed and decided to record, initially thinking he might capture a breath.
"I was naïve in the rarity I was about to document," Forrest stated. "The whale suddenly rose toward the surface, so I hit record – any breath is chance to capture a unique behavior. In this instance she didn't rise for an exhale, but to birth her new calf." He described the moment as "extraordinary" and a "privilege to have witnessed such a remarkable moment."
Forrest, who was joined by members of the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA), noted that the experience was more than just filmmaking or photography; he felt like a "spectator." ORRCA's team continued to monitor the mother and calf for several hours, collecting observations crucial for understanding the calf's first hours of life.
This footage is believed to be only the fourth complete humpback whale birth ever recorded on film globally and the first captured by drone. ORRCA expressed that "Every observation like this has the potential to expand our understanding of humpback whale reproduction, maternal behaviour and the earliest stages of a calf's life." The organization hopes the encounter will "make a valuable contribution to the international understanding of these incredible animals."
Humpback whales were listed as endangered in the U.S. in the 1970s due to commercial whaling, with a moratorium established in 1985. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), four of the 14 distinct population segments remain protected as endangered, and one is listed as threatened.
In a post on Instagram, Forrest said that while the "ocean seemed like it was full of activity," this whale was traveling at a very slow speed.
"It's a privilege to have witnessed such a remarkable moment, and even more rewarding to know it may contribute to marine mammal science for years to come," Forrest said. "Watching this unfold in front of me, I wasn't just a filmmaker or a photographer. I was a spectator."
