A Mother Whale Just Taught Her Baby to Breach off Hawaii

Quick Take

• Scientists still can't agree on why whales burn marathon-level energy to launch themselves out of the water, and the leading theories turn out to be wilder than you'd expect. Explore the leading theories →
• Breaching is not an instinct, as baby whales have to learn it, and the timeline for when they can pull it off varies dramatically by species. See how whales learn to breach →
• The viral Hawaii video reveals something subtle about the baby whale's technique that hints at how far along its training actually is. Watch the Hawaii video →
• Not all whale species breach, and for those that do, how high they can go might completely reset your mental image of these animals. See breach heights by species →

Adult whales are experts at breaching. However, it is an activity that is learned through observation and practice as a young whale. It is rare to witness baby whales practicing their breaching. However, witnessing a baby whale learning to breach is truly unforgettable.

Mother Whale Teaches Baby to Breach

Recently, a mother whale was caught in the act of teaching her baby how to breach off the coast of Hawaii. The video, captured and posted to Instagram by Alison Teal, has since gone viral due to the heartwarming nature of the content.

The video, captured from Teal’s treehouse, shows how effortlessly the mother breaks the water’s surface. She then launches nearly all of her body into the air before rolling on her back, creating a tremendous splash. Moments later, her baby breaches, sending most of its body airborne before going back under the waves.

It is unclear how long the baby has been learning from its mother. However, given how much of its body the little one managed to pull out of the ocean, this was not its first time breaching.

Why Whales Breach

Whales have been witnessed breaching for centuries. To this day, the reason whales breach has never been discovered. While there are several strong hypotheses about why whales launch themselves out of the water, scientists have not reached a consensus.

There are three different types of whale breaches that involve bringing the upper portion of the body out of the water. The first is a full breach, which occurs when at least half of the body is out of the water. If less than 50% of the body is exposed, it is considered a half-breach.

The final type of breach, in which a portion of the head and body emerges from the water, is the chin-slap breach.

When whales breach, they use an incredible amount of energy. According to a 2020 study, a nearly 50-foot-long whale uses as much energy in a few seconds of breaching as a 132-pound person does to run a marathon. Therefore, breaching is not something that adult whales take lightly or do without a purpose.

The most plausible explanations for why whales breach include:

• Long-distance communication created from the splash
• Demonstration of physical fitness
• Signal of a change in the environment
• Removing the bodies of barnacles and lice

Not all whale species breach. For those who do, the effort appears worthwhile, as they tend to repeat the behavior frequently.

At What Age Can Baby Whales Successfully Breach?

Breaching is a process that takes practice. It is not a skill that baby whales are born knowing how to do. Consequently, it can take some time for baby whales to officially breach.

Each whale species has its own timeline for when baby whales will start to practice breaching. For humpback whales, practice has been witnessed shortly after birth. Many other species will wait until they are a few months old and have enough strength to lift a good portion of their bodies out of the water.

As the young whales practice, their breaching technique can look sloppy. The process is akin to toddlers learning to walk. Their technique is not perfect at first. However, the more time spent breaching, the easier it becomes.

By the time whales are one year old, they have become quite competent in the art of breaching. While it may be used for play and communication purposes at this age, it is a skill that will serve the whales well as they mature into adulthood.

How High Whales Are Able to Breach

Not all whales are known for breaching frequently. However, some species are known for breaching at impressive heights and doing so often. Just how high a whale can breach depends on the species.

Some whales with particularly high breaches include:

• Humpback whales: 30 to 50 feet
• Orcas: 15 to 20 feet
• Blue whales: 12 to 30 feet

The frequency of whale species breaching is as follows:

• Humpback whales: Frequently
• Gray whale: Average
• Sperm whale: Low to average
• Right whale: Low
• Minke whale: Low

Breaching is a spectacle that whale enthusiasts can enjoy repeatedly without it ever losing its appeal. This is especially true when a mother and baby whale participate in the activity together, turning an awe-inspiring experience into a truly memorable one.