Scientists Watched 11 Whales Deliver a Baby Together
band together: to join with other people in a group, especially to achieve something or solve a problem
In over 60 years of studying sperm whales, scientists had seen a birth only once. Then, in July 2023, a research team sailing near the coast of Dominica got lucky.
They were watching a family of 11 whales. The researchers knew each whale by name. There was Lady Oracle, the grandmother; Rounder, her daughter; and Aurora, Rounder’s sister. That morning, the whales were acting strangely. Instead of spreading out to find food, all 11 were grouped together, facing Rounder. Then she released a cloud of blood, and the researchers realized what was happening.
Over the next five hours, the team recorded everything with drones and underwater microphones. Rounder gave birth to a small calf. Newborn whales cannot swim on their own. Without help, they would sink and drown. So the other whales banded together to lift the baby to the surface for its first breath. For three hours, they took turns holding it up.
What surprised the scientists most was who helped. It was not just Rounder’s family. Whales from a completely different family line also helped care for the newborn. When a group of pilot whales came too close, the females formed a wall to protect the baby. A young male tried to approach, but the older females pushed him away.
The researchers also noticed that the whales changed their clicking sounds during the most intense moments, as if they were coordinating.
One year later, the same calf was spotted alive and well.
Sample sentences
After the flood destroyed several homes on our street, all the neighbors banded together to help with the cleanup.
Three small bakeries in the town banded together to share delivery costs because none of them could afford a driver on their own.
When one of the hikers got injured on the trail, the rest of the group banded together to carry her back to the road.
Origin
From the older meaning of “band” as a group of people united for a purpose (same root as the word for a music band). Originally referred to organized groups or companies, dating to the 1400s.
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