This is the incredible moment a giant gray whale gives birth in front of a happy group of whale watchers.
The sprawling woman was spotted Monday lying on her back near Dana Point, California, south of Los Angeles.
But suddenly she is joined by her baby, who emerges from the bloody water and happily swims around her.
The amazing scenes took place just meters from the boat of a group of whale watchers who watched in awe at the spectacle.
The passengers on the boat, operated by Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Safari, looked on in shock and amazement as they watched
Whale watchers in Southern California witnessed the birth of a gray whale just meters from their boat on Monday
A woman who was on the boat that witnessed the birth said: “This is unique stuff.”
Passengers were first alerted to the birth when they noticed blood in the water and thought the whale might have been injured.
However, the group quickly realized that the 35-foot whale would actually give birth.
The boat’s captain, Gary Brighouse, said the entire outing became solemn after the realization hit.
The passengers on the boat, which is operated by Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Safari, looked on in shock and amazement, according to the captain.
“The range of emotions couldn’t have been wider,” Brighouse said in an interview with the Orange County Register.
“It went from horror to pure joy and amazement,” the captain continued. “It moved me to my core.”
Gray whales like the one caught on camera are often seen in southern California as they make their winter journey from Alaska to Mexico to warmer waters.
However, births caught on camera are rare.
“As far as I know, no one has ever filmed or even seen a gray whale giving birth,” said Dave Anderson, the owner of Capt. Dave’s.
Brighouse also described the group as “happy” to witness such a spectacle, but also shared how concerned he and others were at their closeness.
“We said, ‘Wait a minute, don’t get too close. This mother wants to protect you,” Brighouse said.
“Mom rolled around calmly between the baby and the boat, she rubbed against our boat and our boat lifted out of the water, which was a little disconcerting,” he said.
The spectacle happened near Dana Point, California, just south of Los Angeles
A woman who was on the boat that witnessed the birth said: “It’s one-off stuff.”
Gray whales like the one caught on camera are often seen in southern California as they make their winter journey from Alaska to Mexico to warmer waters
Stacie Fox, who was on the boat taking photos of the birth, said she was thrilled to witness the birth and described it as a unique experience.
“I was racking my brains, I was super excited,” Fox said. “I definitely thought I wouldn’t see it unless I went down into the lagoon. It’s unique stuff.’
Others on the boat seemed to agree.
In a video posted to YouTube on Tuesday, a woman can be heard screaming “Oh my god, oh my god” as she gives birth.
That of Capt. Dave’s posted video has amassed more than 18,000 views. Comments piled up on the post, and viewers shared the joy the video brought them.
“I’ve been on some amazing whale watching with Capt. Dave and on Maui but this would have topped them all! Happy mama, happy calf,” said one YouTube commenter. ‘Omg! Just bought my tickets,” another person wrote.
One person who was on the boat celebrating his birthday suggested to the group that the calf should share its name “Severin” since they also share birthdays.
Brighouse also described the group as “happy” to witness such a spectacle, but also shared how concerned he and others were at their closeness
In a video posted to YouTube on Tuesday, a woman can be heard screaming “Oh my god, oh my god” as she gives birth
According to the Orange County Register, the group agreed.
Monday’s outing on the water was the first of the year for the boat company as rocky waters hit New Year’s Day. Another boat captain who was called to the scene described this
“When we came back, we saw the newborn calf, which was only a few minutes old,” Moore said. “The mother gently lifted the calf for air while the calf appeared to be resting on her back.
“At other moments, we could see the calf’s limp tail fin as this newborn calf was learning to swim.”
Researchers have carefully observed West Coast gray whale species in recent years.
An alarming number of whales have washed up dead on shore, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.
Many of the whales appear starved and emaciated. In 2020, 172 washed ashore from Canada to Mexico. In 2021 there were 115 and in 2022 104 incidents were registered.
Scientists are still observing the species, which nearly went extinct in the 1800s but has since experienced a healthy resurgence thanks to conservation measures put in place in the 1930s and 1940s.
The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration estimates that there are currently around 17,000 gray whales in the world. However, that number is down nearly 10,000 from 2016.
Tourists took tons of pictures and videos of the whales in the water
Gray whale births caught on camera are rare