Humpback Whale Female and Calf Playing Together

A male humpback whale calf playing with his mother. The adult whale alternated between breaching and slapping her fluke against the ocean surface, while the calf swam around her and breached. The calf was skinny for his size and had a prominent injury on the right side of his caudal stem area. The wound, which seemed to have healed for the most part, appeared to be the result of a large bite. The undersized calf was energetic, playful, and had a propensity to venture substantial distances from his mother.

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Filename: humpback-whale-mother-calf-playing-together-tonga-201408-2272.tif
Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication in any form without prior written consent.
Image Size: 4913x3275 / 23.3MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Humpback Whale Animalia Chordata Mammalia Eutheria Cetacea Mysticeti Balaenopteridae Megaptera novaeangliae Cetartiodactyla Baleen Whale CITES Appendix 1 Filter Feeder Endangered: IUCN Red List Marine Mammal Mysticete Rorqual Calf Mother and Calf Tail Slap Breaching Play South Pacific Tonga Vava'u
Contained in galleries: Humpback Whale Activity

A male humpback whale calf playing with his mother. The adult whale alternated between breaching and slapping her fluke against the ocean surface, while the calf swam around her and breached. The calf was skinny for his size and had a prominent injury on the right side of his caudal stem area. The wound, which seemed to have healed for the most part, appeared to be the result of a large bite. The undersized calf was energetic, playful, and had a propensity to venture substantial distances from his mother.