First-ever footage of blue whale feeding calf off East Timor

The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is a marine mammal from the family Balaenopteridae and is the largest animal currently living on Earth. Adults can reach up to 100 feet in length and weigh as much as 330,000 pounds, with females typically being larger than males.

The published footage comes from the vicinity of East Timor in Southeast Asia. It was recorded in 2022 but has only been shown to a wider audience now. As explained in New Scientist, the subspecies of dwarf blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) found off the coast of East Timor are slightly smaller, growing up to 79 feet in length.

"It is certainly not a newborn calf, but it is still feeding on mother's milk," commented Karen Edyvane of Australian National University, as quoted by New Scientist.

Scientists believe the young whale in the footage is about two years old. This explains why it stays with its mother, as young typically become independent only after about three years. The way they draw milk from the mother is exciting. They do not attach to her; the milk is released into the water and is then swallowed by the calf.

Young blue whales should not be called "babies." Right after birth, they weigh as much as 6,600 pounds and can measure up to 23 feet in length. They drink enormous amounts of milk, up to 80 gallons daily.

Capri Beck from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has no doubt that the footage was recorded by chance. The diver was incredibly lucky, being in the right place at the right time, as blue whales often live far from shore in areas difficult for humans to access.

"The opportunity to be in the water with blue whales is extremely rare, not to mention being in the water at the right time and place to film a calf feeding," stated Beck.