Two humpback whales have been photographed having sex for the first time in the history of their species – and both partners were male.
British news agency SWNS Media Group broke the news of the surprising encounter, which was first reported in a new study by Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) researchers on Tuesday. National Geographic, Living science and Guard also reported the findings of the study.
Photographers Lyle Krannichfeld and Brandi Romano saw the whales mating on January 19, 2022. The pair documented the encounter from a safe distance while in a boat off the Hawaiian island of Maui.
As the two males approached their boat, photographers saw that one of them was “visibly emaciated and covered in whale ears,” which caught their attention as a sign of poor health, the SWNS report said.
Two humpback whales have been spotted copulating for the first time ever.
Lyle Krannichfeld/Brandi Romano/PWF/SWNS
A humpback whale jumped out of the water next to the tourist boat and waved at the astonished onlookers
The second, healthier whale continued to approach the first whale and “use its pectoral fins to hold the injured whale in place and initiate shallow, short penetrations,” the report said.
The animals slowly circled the boat several times, allowing photos to be taken while Krannichfeld and Romano remained within legal distance of the whales. In Hawaii, it is illegal to swim with or approach humpback whales within 100 meters.
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Whales in Maui in January 2022.
Lyle Krannichfeld/Brandi Romano/PWF/SWNS
Photographers recalled their encounter with Stephanie Stack, whale researcher and lead author of Tuesday’s paper at Science of marine animals.
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A humpback whale in Maui.
Lyle Krannichfeld/Brandi Romano/PWF/SWNS
“What they stumbled upon was an unprecedented observation. The ground-breaking photographs taken by Krannichfeld and Romano provide unparalleled insight into the private lives of these magnificent marine mammals,” PWF said in a statement about Krannichfeld and Romano’s photographs.
The organization continued: “The health difference between the two whales adds a layer of complexity to this unique observation. The poor condition of one whale, possibly caused by a ship strike, may have contributed to the observed behavior,” noting that this is the first time homosexual behavior has been documented in humpback whales. although it is common among cetaceans.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education