Underwater footage recorded off Timor-Leste shows a pygmy blue whale mother nursing her calf. Reported by the Australian National University (ANU) on July 4, 2024, it is a rare recorded glimpse of blue whale reproduction—not proof that this was the first time a blue whale had ever nursed.
What does the footage show?
The recording captures a mother pygmy blue whale nursing a calf in waters off Timor-Leste. ANU described the observation as some of the first recorded evidence of reproduction in blue whales. The material was presented to the International Whaling Commission’s Scientific Committee in April 2024.
“First recorded footage” refers to the documentation of the behavior, not its first occurrence. A video can show that nursing happened in this instance; it cannot establish that blue whales had never nursed before researchers recorded it.
Where was the nursing video filmed?
The whales belong to the Austral-Indonesian population of pygmy blue whales. ANU reports that this population migrates more than 5,000 kilometres each year between southern Australia and the Banda Sea near eastern Indonesia, passing through Timor-Leste waters. Along Timor-Leste’s north coast, deep water lies close to shore, including in the narrow Ombai-Wetar Strait.
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ANU marine ecologist Karen Edyvane, who leads the monitoring program, called the area one of the most accessible and best locations for blue whale research. Its nearshore setting helps researchers and local partners observe whales along their migration route.
How was the observation made?
The footage emerged from a decade-long monitoring and citizen-science program led by ANU. Researchers work alongside whale-tour operators, tourists, student volunteers and local fishers. According to ANU, research in Timor-Leste began in 2006, and the program had recorded more than 2,700 blue whale sightings in the country’s waters since 2014. That is a count of sightings, not a tally of distinct whales or an estimate of the population.
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Secondary reporting by New Atlas says the nursing footage was captured in 2022 by a snorkeler. It also mentions separate 2023 drone footage showing adult courtship and whales defecating. Those details come from secondary coverage; ANU’s report is the primary source for the monitoring program and researchers’ interpretation of the nursing observation.
What might the footage mean for blue whale research?
Researchers interpret the observation as evidence that Timor-Leste’s waters may matter not only for feeding but also for reproduction. Australian Antarctic Division researcher Elanor Bell said the evidence suggests the waters are “not only important foraging areas for blue whales, but also are critical for reproduction.” She added that when, where and how blue whales reproduce had remained a mystery.
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The recording documents one nursing event. It does not, on its own, show how often mothers nurse in these waters, establish that the area is a breeding ground, or provide a new estimate of blue whale abundance. Its importance is that it gives researchers a recorded example of behavior that has been difficult to observe.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the local monitoring effort matters
Long-term observations can build a picture of whale movements and behavior that a single encounter cannot provide. The program’s involvement of researchers and local participants also connects scientific monitoring with Timor-Leste’s interest in protecting its marine life and sustaining whale tourism. Jose Quintas, National Director for Environment at the Timor-Leste Ministry of Tourism, described the shared goal as learning more about pygmy blue whale migration while supporting the sustainability of the country’s growing whale-tourism industry.
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