In rare natural event, mother right whale adopts orphaned calf

[formercia]



http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/48944/in+rare+natural+event+mother+right+whale+adopts+orphaned+calf/





In rare natural event, mother right whale adopts orphaned calf


By: Pete Thomas, GrindTV.com

There has been plenty of bad news recently involving cetaceans, including two whale deaths in the past few days alone (off Florida and in the Wadden Sea). But a touching story is playing out off South Africa, where a southern right whale mother, who is caring for her calf, appears to have adopted an orphaned calf that had previously been alone and seemed to face an imperiled future.



--snip--

When the calf approached the adult female and tried to nurse, the female started thrashing the water.

"She was trying to swim away from the calf but it was probably starving and doing its utmost to drink from her," Evan Austin, co-founder of African Wings, stated on the company's Facebook page. "She was vainly trying to beat it away with her tail and rolling and turning in the water, but the little guy was desperate to drink and would not give up."

Like a chapter in a children's book, both calves seemed to bond and at one point were seen swimming closely together, on their own, with the mother nowhere in sight. She had probably just needed a break.

Fast-forward to Sunday, where for the first time the airplane crew watched in amazement as both calves nursed milk from the mother. "Both calves look healthy and the mother does not look too thin so there is a chance that all may end well," Austin stated.

--snip--

[Enthusiast]

1. Thanks, formercia.

That is an uplifting story.

[No Elephants]

2. Awwww. I hope Dainbramaged sees this.