Unique footage: researchers record feeding of a blue whale calf

For the first time, researchers managed to capture on video the moment of feeding a blue whale calf. It happened during the annual migration of these marine giants.

The filming took place off the coast of Timor-Leste, a country in Southeast Asia, according to IFLScience.

The image shows a young whale feeding on its mother's milk during its annual 5,000-kilometer journey between southern Australia and the Banda Sea off eastern Indonesia.

This part of the sea constantly attracts cetaceans. Blue whales, beaked whales, short-finned minke whales, bottlenose dolphins, and six other species of dolphins are often seen here. The area is also home to many sharks and turtles.

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The region's deep water channels, which reach depths of over 3000 meters, are the main migration routes for marine life traveling between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Timor-Leste's deep coastal waters, especially the narrow Ombai-Vetar Strait along the country's northern coast, are one of the best and most accessible blue whale watching locations in the world.

From newborn calves and nursing mothers to courting adults, Timor-Leste's waters offer scientists a unique opportunity to get a firsthand look into the private lives of one of the largest and most elusive animals on the planet, said researcher Karen Edivane.

The sighting of a blue whale calf off the coast of Timor-Leste demonstrates the important role this region plays in the reproduction and early life of these creatures.

Researcher Elanor Bell noted that these waters are not only important feeding grounds for blue whales, but also critical for their reproduction. "Until now, it has been a mystery as to when, where and how blue whales breed," she added.

Blue whales, the largest and heaviest animals on the planet, can reach lengths of up to 33 meters and weigh up to 270 tons. Although blue whales are considered an endangered species, their global population is gradually increasing due to rapid recovery.

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