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Hey there! You probably never thought about what a humpback whale’s placenta looks like, right? It didn’t cross my mind until today, either. Some lucky visitors on a whale-watching tour with Coastal Whale Tours in Australia got a firsthand look at one. Can you imagine scanning the ocean for dorsal fins and suddenly spotting a huge placenta? Talk about a surprise!
The captain and guests snapped plenty of photos because, let’s be honest, WHALE PLACENTA is a sight to behold. According to a post from Ryan Thompson of Coastal Whale Tours, this occurrence is so rare that their captain, known as “Roundy,” has never seen it in two decades at sea, nor has Ryan in his 15 years of whale watching.
Now, some folks might find this a bit off-putting. That’s understandable; childbirth can be messy, and the aftermath isn’t something everyone wants to dwell on. But I find it utterly fascinating! These humpback whale mothers are out there in the vast ocean giving birth all alone. No fellow whale to support them, no dolphin doula to help ease their pain. They’re just out there creating life like it’s no big deal. And then, after the deed is done, they release this THREE-FOOT-WIDE placenta, floating to the surface like a giant, bloody announcement: “Hey world, I just had a thousand-pound baby! What did you do today?”
Whale mamas definitely deserve some relaxation time.
To be honest, I never took a moment to look at any of my three placentas. I had C-sections and signed off on donating the placenta for scientific purposes before even entering the operating room. I didn’t know what “science” intended to do with them, but I was fine letting someone else utilize them for… well, something scientific.
But now, seeing this whale placenta has me wishing I’d taken a peek! It’s so intriguing! I never considered that a marine mammal gives birth with a gigantic placenta involved. I knew it existed, but I assumed sharks would devour it quickly or it would sink. I’m not an expert, so maybe that’s indeed what happens to most of them. However, I never thought about the possibility of encountering a whale placenta on a whale-watching cruise.
Now, I can add “see a whale placenta in person” to my bucket list of unusual animal experiences, right alongside “watch a moose cross the road like my cousin did in 2010” and “spend a morning cuddling with loads of baby ducks.” Although, considering how excited marine biologists get when they spot one of these, I might have better luck with the moose than the placenta.
The fascination with whale placentas likely stems from my soft spot for whale mothers. This connection began a few years back when Tahlequah, the orca known as J35, carried her deceased calf around British Columbia for over two weeks while mourning. I had just experienced a heartbreaking missed miscarriage myself, carrying my baby for three weeks before needing a procedure to let go. Watching that whale mother carry her baby through the waters for a bit longer resonated with me; it highlighted the universal desire among mothers to hold on, even when all hope seems lost.
In 2020, both Tahlequah and I welcomed living babies. I’ll admit, I shed a few happy tears when I learned her baby had survived. If you’re not familiar with her story, it’s worth a read. J35 has endured loss and has even cared for her sister’s calves after her sister passed away. She’s been through so much and continues to captivate me.
Now, in addition to my affection for orcas, I’ve gained a profound respect for incredible humpback mothers. The sheer size of a whale placenta emphasizes how massive their babies are—often 10-15 feet long and weighing over 1,000 pounds. Honestly, it’s remarkable that the placenta doesn’t need to be even bigger. That’s one giant baby!
Go on, whale mamas! If I could, I’d give you a huge high five right on your magnificent fin!
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Summary: Witnessing a humpback whale’s placenta has given me newfound respect for these majestic creatures and their birthing process. The sheer enormity of the placenta emphasizes the size of their calves and highlights the resilience of whale mothers, drawing parallels to our own experiences with motherhood and loss.