In the pictures, two male humpback whales were caught mating, a behavior that had not been observed before in humpback whales. The surprising discovery was made by two enthusiasts while boating in Hawaii in January 2022. This behavior had been previously described in other whale species, but not in humpback whales.
The images were captured by Lyle Krannichfeld and Brandi Romano, who were contacted by researcher Stephanie Stack to share their observations. The whales approached their boat, allowing the observers to witness the mating behavior up close. The scientists were able to document the interaction and share their findings in a scientific journal.
The researchers observed that one of the whales appeared to be in poor health, with signs of injuries and lice on its skin. The healthier whale repeatedly approached the weaker one and engaged in mating behavior several times. The researchers noted that this behavior could be related to strengthening social bonds or alliances within the whale population.
The discovery of same-sex mating in humpback whales adds to our understanding of whale behavior and social dynamics. It also highlights the importance of protecting these magnificent creatures and their habitats. Further research is needed to fully understand the implications of this behavior and its impact on humpback whale populations.