fin whale

In July 2025, a rescue boat captain near Queensland spotted two humpback whales and the body of a stillborn calf on the seafloor. Footage shows the female repeatedly diving toward the calf, making eye contact and resting a pectoral fin on its body. Researchers describe the behaviour as consistent with grieving, drawing wide attention to whale mourning.

New reporting details efforts to track fin whales and sperm whales in the Mediterranean Sea, two of the region's largest whale species. Researchers use tracking methods to learn more about the animals' movements and habits, information seen as important for protecting cetaceans in waters busy with shipping and human activity. Marine science audiences are sharing the news widely.