Whale’s Nurturing Moment
Off French Polynesia’s coast, a photographer captured a rare sight: wisps of humpback whale milk floating in crystal blue waters as a calf swims nearby. Whales lack lips, occasionally causing milk to escape during nursing. The image provides valuable data about marine mammal nursing behavior. Humpback whale milk contains 45-60% fat content, allowing calves to gain up to 100 pounds daily. Scientists estimate only a dozen photos of whale milk in open water exist worldwide.