Scientists have successfully captured images of humpback whales mating for the first time, revealing that both participating whales were male. Published in “Marine Mammal Science,” these photographs mark a groundbreaking moment as decades of research on humpback whales had never documented their copulation.
Taken off the coast of Hawaii by two photographers aboard a private boat, the images were crucial in confirming the males’ identities through the examination of tail flukes and genital regions. The encounter showcased one whale in good health, while the other, thinner and afflicted with lice, displayed signs of a jaw injury.
While non-reproductive mating behaviors are observed in various animal species for reasons such as enjoyment, social bonding, or asserting dominance, this instance challenges the norm for humpback whales. Homosexual mating behaviors have been documented in multiple species, yet scientists refrain from using terms like “gay” due to the word’s human-centric connotations.
Humpback whales, reaching lengths of up to 52 feet and weighing as much as 36 tons, possess genitalia rarely observed by scientists as they are typically concealed. The images from Hawaii depicted one whale holding the other in place with its fins during the act, following a circling behavior around the boat. After completion, the healthier whale dove off and vanished, while the weaker one lingered near the surface before swimming away.
These unprecedented images have sparked questions about the motivations behind such behavior, and whether it would be exhibited by two healthy male whales under different circumstances.
