Two Male Humpback Whales Caught 'Mating' for the First Time
A pair of Humpback whales were photographed mating for the first time ever recently. Both were males. The finding has shocked the scientific community, who never have been able to document whales' mating process. Let alone seen two males mate with each other.
The pictures were taken by two photographers in 2022 off the coast of Hawaii in a private boat, but were recently published in "Marine Mammal Science."
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According to the scientific journal, whales have been studied for decades but their sexual behavior has rarely been spotted.
"This is the first report of penetration by a humpback whale, and the first report of sexual activity between two male humpback whales," the journal stated.
Related: Video of Humpback Whales Bubble Feeding Is Truly a Sight to Behold
Fox 59 reports that scientists have confirmed that both whales were male. They made the call based on pictures of their tail flukes and genital regions. They also observed that one whale appealed to be healthy, while the other appeared to be in poor condition. It was very thin and its body was covered in lice. It also appeared to have a jaw injury.
The photographers noticed that the two whales were "interacting with each other" as they circled around the boat, Business Insider reports. Fox 59 states that one whale was pursuing the other.
The whale that was sickly was approached by the second whale from behind when it happened. After the act the healthy whale swam away and disappeared. The weaker lingered by the surface and then also swam away.
Scientists aren't exactly sure what influenced the whales' behavior. However one theory they've come up with was that the healthy whale was exerting its dominance over the weaker whale, Business Insider states. Scientists have questioned whether two healthy whales would exhibit the same behavior.
This isn't the first time that same-sex behavior has been observed by animals. Monkeys, penguins, and dolphins have been known to engage in same-sex mating too.
There's so much more to learn from what happened. Scientists are hoping that the photos will help drive more research into whales' mating patterns.
"In conclusion, the documented instance of male–male non-reproductive behavior presented here, including the unique case of an apparently injured and ailing whale being penetrated by a seemingly healthy counterpart, raise intriguing questions about the nature of such behavior in humpback whales," the study states. "
"The limited data available on this behavior emphasizes the need for further research to explore the motivations, implications, and potential factors influencing such interactions, especially in the context of healthy individuals," it adds.
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