Historic Moment off the Coast of Maui
For the first time ever, two humpback whales were photographed engaging in sexual activity, both of which were male, in a groundbreaking event captured off the coast of Maui, Hawaii in 2022, as revealed by a new study in Marine Mammal Science.
The astonishing image not only documented this unique behavior between the male humpback whales but also shed light on the dynamics of the encounter. The incident occurred when a private boat witnessed the whales interacting, with one whale identified as Whale A showing signs of weakness and possible injury.
Unveiling the Details
According to the study, the other whale, named Whale B, repeatedly approached Whale A from behind, using its pectoral fins to maintain position while penetrating Whale A with its penis. The penetrations were reported to be shallow and brief, lasting less than two minutes each before Whale B dived and disappeared.
Although the exact reasons for this behavior remain uncertain, one theory proposed in the study suggests that Whale B could have been asserting dominance over its injured counterpart. This extraordinary event adds to a growing body of evidence of homosexual activity observed in various animal species, such as monkeys, dolphins, and penguins.
Human-Whale Communication Breakthrough
Recently, another significant scientific breakthrough involving humpback whales made headlines when researchers managed to engage in a 20-minute “conversation” with a humpback whale by emitting contact calls at different intervals. This interaction was described as a remarkable exchange in the humpback ‘language,’ marking a new milestone in interspecies communication.
“It certainly felt like we had been heard,” noted Fred Sharpe, coauthor and principal investigator with the Alaska Whale Foundation. Brenda McCowan, a professor at UC Davis’s School of Veterinary Medicine, expressed excitement about this milestone, calling it the first communicative exchange between humans and humpback whales using their language.
For further insights on these groundbreaking discoveries, Business Insider reached out to the Pacific Whale Foundation for additional commentary.