In the Indian Ocean, scientists witnessed a touching scene: a female dolphin carried her deceased calf on her back for almost a week, while her entire pod steadfastly accompanied the grieving mother, as if sharing in her sorrow.
A maritime tragedy unfolded off the coast of Western Australia. Researchers from Geographe Marine Research have been observing a bottlenose dolphin named Fraggle for several years. When she gave birth again, the weather was cold, and the newborn did not survive.
For six days, the mother could not part with her calf. She carried it on her back everywhere and occasionally gently nudged it to the surface of the water, as if helping it to take a breath.
The behavior of the other dolphins particularly struck the scientists. All 14 members of the pod stayed close to Fraggle, accompanying her throughout this time. According to the researchers, such collective support is extremely rare. Usually, relatives observe the mother’s behavior from a distance and soon return to their normal lives. This time, the pod seemed to share in her loss.
The scientists note that Fraggle has experienced such a tragedy before. In recent years, she has lost four calves, with the previous one dying just a year ago—in March 2025.
"Dolphins are incredibly emotional animals; they are very attached to their offspring. Mothers can carry deceased calves for hours, sometimes even days, and may refuse food due to their grief. But I have never seen such a display of support from the entire pod. It was incredibly touching—chillingly so," said Rodney Peterson, a participant in the marine mammal research project.
After nearly a week, Fraggle finally let go of her calf's body. Researchers explain that she had to do this in order to start feeding normally again and preserve her own life.
Now scientists hope to find the remains of the calf to determine the exact cause of its death. According to them, this story once again shows how complex the social bonds and emotional lives of dolphins can be.
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