Drone Captures World-First Footage of Humpback Whale Giving Birth Off Australia's East Coast

The Drone Pilot and the Organization

Volunteer drone pilot Alexander (Alex) Forrest, a 20-year-old wildlife photographer, was conducting aerial observations for the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) when he spotted a female humpback behaving unusually . ORRCA is a nonprofit marine mammal conservation and research group that relies on volunteers to monitor whale populations along the coast.

Forrest was positioned on a coastal lookout near Kingscliff, watching the annual migration of whales along a route commonly known as the 'humpback highway.' He noticed one whale moving at an 'unusually slow' pace, separated from the main pod, and directed his drone toward it .

The Birth Sequence Captured on Drone

The drone footage, recorded from approximately 700 meters offshore and from a distance exceeding 100 meters to avoid disturbing the animals, reveals a remarkable sequence :

• The mother humpback was swimming slowly near the surface, somewhat separated from the rest of the pod .
• The water visibly fills with blood as the birth begins .
• The newborn calf emerges and surfaces for its first breath, then begins swimming alongside its mother .

ORRCA confirmed that Forrest adhered to strict wildlife observation protocols, maintaining a safe distance throughout the filming . The entire event unfolded in calm sea conditions, making the aerial capture possible .

Why This Footage Is So Rare

Only three other complete humpback whale births have ever been recorded on film, and those were captured from boats or underwater cameras . This is the first and only aerial drone-captured birth. Humpback births are inherently difficult to document because they occur in open ocean, are brief, and are rarely visible from boats or shore without disturbing the animals.

Broader Significance for Migration and Conservation

Eastern Australian humpback whales migrate annually from Antarctic feeding grounds to the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef and northern Australia to breed and give birth. This footage provides rare direct evidence of a birth occurring during the migration route itself, rather than at the traditional calving grounds farther north .

Humpback whales in Australian waters have made a remarkable recovery from near-extinction due to commercial whaling. The footage offers scientists an unprecedented opportunity to study birthing behavior, maternal care, and calf survival in the wild, which can inform ongoing conservation management .

What Scientists Hope to Learn

Researchers plan to analyze the footage to better understand humpback whale reproductive behavior, birthing intervals, and calf development — data that has been extremely difficult to gather without aerial observation . The video could help answer fundamental questions about how and where humpbacks give birth along their migration route, and what conditions support successful births.

Forrest described the experience as "a privilege to have witnessed such a remarkable moment" . The footage is now set to be analyzed scientifically, with researchers expecting it to improve understanding of humpback whale births .