In an awe-inspiring display of interspecies empathy and protection, a remarkable encounter unfolded between a female diver and a humpback whale that left them both forever changed. This heartwarming story showcases the extraordinary intelligence and compassion that humpback whales exhibit towards other species.
“He just wouldn’t stop touching me. I tried to pull away over and over again, but she kept on doing it. She finally pushed me out of the water with her fin. She kept putting her eye on her right next to me and I couldn’t understand what she was trying to tell me,” Hauser recalled.
A Tense 10 Minutes
For nearly ten minutes, the interaction between the whale and the diver remained tense. Hauser began to entertain dark thoughts, fearing that her encounter with the humpback would end in tragedy. She recounted, “I thought the camera crew was going to end up filming my death. One lash from a whale’s tail, and the pressure would break his bones.”
A Heroic Revelation
However, the whale’s actions were far from aggressive. Hauser soon discovered that the humpback was, in fact, trying to protect her from a lurking threat—the presence of a tiger shark nearby. The whale appeared to be making every effort to shield her, positioning herself under her massive pectoral fin.
Meanwhile, another humpback whale observed from a distance, repeatedly striking its tail against the water to deter the approaching shark. Hauser, taking her eyes off the protective humpback for a moment, noticed a swiftly moving shape in the water, recognizable by its distinctive side-to-side tail movement. It was indeed a tiger shark, one of the largest she had ever seen.
A Lifesaving Act
Fortunately, after several intense minutes, the heroic humpback successfully shielded Hauser and guided her back to the surface. Remarkably, once she safely reached the boat, the humpback returned to ensure her continued safety.
An Extraordinary Act of Protection
Marine biologist Robert Pitman, who has studied humpback whales for over six decades, has observed these creatures banding together to thwart killer whale attacks, displaying rescue behaviors such as ramming when they sense a calf is in danger. Hauser’s encounter is the only known instance of this protective behavior extended to a human being.
A Commitment to Conservation
Though the encounter left Hauser with some bruises, it also left her with an unshakable commitment to her work and raising awareness about the challenges facing the world’s whales.
“The oceans and the whales are in a lot of trouble. The ocean is the earth’s amniotic sac, and what is happening to the creatures in the ocean will soon happen to us if we are not more careful. We need to be a voice for them,” Hauser passionately stated.
This awe-inspiring display of compassion and protection serves as a powerful reminder that we have much to learn from the remarkable animals that share our planet. It underscores the urgency of safeguarding our shared home, Earth, and its diverse inhabitants, emphasizing that the responsibility falls upon all of us to protect it.
