Greeting Newborn

Pen and ink drawing done as part of a portfolio of sperm whale behavior for Cetacean Society International, as observed by Dr. Hal Whitehead and recorded in his book "Voyage to the Whales". Dr. Whitehead and his team were the first scientists to witness the birth of a sperm whale. Shortly after witnessing the birth, they saw the scene depicted here. Here is Dr. Whitehead's description of what they saw. "For fifteen minutes the newborn was surrounded by energetic elders. They thrusted and cavorted, apparently attempting to touch this new member of their group. The calf was rolled, pushed along by foreheads and once squeezed almost out of the water by the jostling adults....Most probably, calf and adults were engaged in a vigorous introduction. The calf will be spending at least the next five years in close contact with these adults, and they may have to baby-sit for it, feed it, or teach it."