Heartbreaking video shows orphaned newborn whale trying to 'nurse' from a boat's hull

Mothers are like superheroes; give them a problem, and they'll fix it like it never existed. But what about those who don't have a mama to call when life gets harder? Growing up without a mother is a heartbreak that no one can prepare you for, and once it happens, your life takes an unexpected turn, leaving you with a void that's impossible to fill. Now, remember, this isn't just restricted to humans, as most animals, too, share an oh-so-beautiful bond with their mothers. Domenic Biagini, who goes by @dolphindronedom on Instagram, encountered a painful situation when, during a joyful water expedition, he noticed a newborn grey whale swimming near the surface, all alone in San Diego.

"Today was by far the most heartbreaking day I’ve ever had on the water," Biagini confessed, as he explained how, while enjoying some beautiful weather with Erica Page (@planetwhale), he saw a baby whale appear on the surface. It wasn't very pleasing, because the sight of a baby whale without their mother around isn't good news. As Biagini prepared his drone to capture the whale, the silent fear of what if the baby was an orphan kept haunting him. He noticed the whale's tail and immediately turned to Erica, saying, "Maybe it was literally just born." Somewhere deep down, Biagini had already sensed the heartbreaking reality, but he wasn't really keen on accepting that. "As the drone made it to the calf, my worst suspicion was confirmed: there was no mom. For one reason or another, this completely dependent calf was on its own. We can only guess as to why," he wrote.

"Maybe Mom died in childbirth? Worse, maybe Mom was hit by a ship or became fatally entangled in fishing gear," Biagini couldn't help but think about a million reasons justifying the mother whale's absence. While he was lost in his thoughts, the whale approached their boat multiple times, and Biagini said it was as if the baby was trying to nurse from the boat. Noticing the whale in distress, Biagini and Erica could no longer hold back their tears and made desperate calls to everyone they knew could help the baby whale. The man knew that SeaWorld, possibly an organization that has expertise in whale care, could help, but he said it's illegal to take them from their natural environment. "Knowing this whale is facing imminent starvation with no way to feed itself makes me wish some laws had exceptions. I wish there was more I could think of to say, but for now, I’m going to leave it at that," Biagini shared.

Biagini's Instagram reel received an overwhelming response on social media. Echoing the sentiments, @bre commented, "The baby whale met a nice adult female whale right after you left. She took care of him like he was her son, and they swam off into the sunset together. He’s totally fine and safe. Let’s go with this story." Similarly, another user, @missybunch15, shared, "This truly is so heartbreaking. Mama and baby are separated—now a starving baby."

On the other hand, @jiedong.yang_ wrote, "As a supporter of the idea of 'no interfering with wildlife to change their behavior,'. I also believe that if there are still human activities causing the death of wildlife, there should be a way to help those in critical need in order to balance the negative effects."

You can follow Domenic Biagini (@dolphindronedom) on Instagram for more such animal-related content.