Viral Video of Dolphin Carrying Its Dead Newborn Through the Indian Ocean Reveals a Deep and Old 'Mourning Ritual'
Researchers said the calf was about two weeks old, and other dolphins stayed close as Fraggle carried it through the Indian Ocean.
- In the Indian Ocean, a mother dolphin named Fraggle carried her dead calf for six days, an event researchers in Western Australia observed as she transported the deceased newborn through an estuary.
- Fraggle's newborn was only two weeks old when it died; the mother had previously experienced the loss of four other calves, compounding her grief during this latest tragedy.
- Other dolphins were observed joining Fraggle during her journey, staying close to her while allowing her space to mourn. They swam alongside the grieving mother in apparent solidarity.
- Researchers have documented similar grief-like behaviour in dolphins and whales, with The Independent reporting the footage was captured by Australian conservation organisation Geographe Marine Research using a drone.
- As the footage spread across social media, viewers shared emotional reactions, with one user posting a reminder that animals have emotions and understand death, not just humans.
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28 Articles
Many were moved by a scene caught on camera in the waters off Perth, Australia, which appeared to show a mother dolphin carrying her deceased calf.
The mother, identified as Fraggle by marine conservation researchers, had previously lost three other puppies. The scene was recorded off the coast of Perth and broadcast by Geographic Marine Research.
The World Is Sharing a Video of a Grieving Dolphin Mother — Here’s Why This Moment Matters to All of Us
Screenshot A mother dolphin carrying her 2-year baby after its passing has stolen the hearts of millions online. Fraggle’s refusal to abandon her calf hits an intimate, familiar nerve.
Mother dolphin refuses to let go of dead calf, carries it in heartbreaking video
A video from Western Australia showed a grieving mother dolphin carrying her dead two-week-old calf beside her pod. Researchers say the behaviour is linked to mourning and has moved viewers online.
Animal protectors have documented a case of mourning in dolphins. A video shows how a mother cannot separate from her deceased calf.
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