The whale that protected a shark diver

In the next article we want to tell you the story of a whale that protected the life of a diver , Nan Hauser. Hauser, a marine biologist, was diving in October 2017 near the Cook Islands, when she suddenly encountered a whale Humpbacked that began to rub against her. Without knowing very well what happened, Hauser began to swim calmly around the whale while it did not stop hitting it lightly on the head and belly with its powerful pectoral fins.

How was the story of the whale that protected a diver?

whale that protected

"I've spent 28 years underwater with the whales, and I've never had such a tactile whale and so insistent on getting on its head, belly or back, or, above all, trying to get under its huge pectoral fin."

Hauser commented, president of the Center for the Investigation and Conservation of the Cetaceans.

"If it hit me too hard, or hit me with its fins or tail, it would break my bones and break my organs. If he held me under the pectoral fin, I would have drowned ... I was sure there was a good chance it would turn into a deadly encounter. "

Hauser did not know very well what was happening, only when he emerged from the water and returned to the ship did he understand what was happening. From his ship, where he carried out the research on cetaceans , he could see that not only were she and the whale in the water. There was another unexpected visitor: a tiger shark about four and a half meters long was also prowling around. Incredible! According to her interpretation and those who accompanied her, the whale that protected this swimmer.

Very intelligently, Hauser and his team captured the whole event on video. The recording shows how the whale that protected the diver was a humpback whale that turned out to be a heroine and not an unexpected attacker, but was protecting her life, avoiding the attack of a shark.

Although there are those who consider that the acts of this whale were not directed voluntarily to protect Nan Hausser, it is interesting to note that it is not the first story of a whale that has protected some people. In fact, this species of marine mammal, the humpback whale, has the good reputation of "altruistic" saving.

In 2019, biologist Robert Pitman was able to take a picture of a humpback whale holding a Weddell seal on its chest, protecting it from a group of hungry killer whales. Pitman continued analyzing that interaction between the humpback whales and the killer whales during the years 1951 and 2012. The result of that study determined that this event was not entirely strange. Pitman said that humpback whales are able to get together and travel long distances to prevent the attack of killer whales , no matter what kind of animal the victim is.

Whale that protected 1

It is believed that the protection instinct of the humpback whale comes from its own instinct to protect its young.

"A rule of simple behavior like 'interfering with the attack of killer whales' can prevent one of their offspring from being killed and can also help other species at times. I think we should consider the possibility that altruism can be involuntary and arise from self-interest. "

The investigators again witnessed the apparent altruism of a humpback whale in May 2017. It happened when a group of cetaceans stood up to a group of killer whales that were stalking a group of gray whales in Monterey Bay, California.

Going back to the story with which we started this article, Hauser is pretty sure that the whale that hit her was just trying to protect her from the predatory shark I was hanging around Later, with the video they recorded, he could see that while that humpback whale was focused hitting it, another hit the water near the tiger shark that lurked trying to mislead him.

Watch the recorded footage immediately:

"However, this marks the first known example of a humpback that intervenes to protect a human from a shark," said Hauser.

Hauser was equally excited and grateful to the reaction of the humpback whale regardless of whether it had acted by instinct, accident or altruism.

At the end of the video that recorded the entire sequence, the whale re-emerges just as Hauser climbs back aboard his team's ship. Although scraped and bruised by the blows she received from the humpback whale, Hauser sees how it launches a rapid burst of water into the air, perhaps in an attempt to say goodbye. And Hauser, excited, throws to the air a: "I love you too".

What a beautiful story that of the whale that protected this diver and marine biologist from being attacked by a shark. We have heard some more history of this type and we never stop getting excited. What did you think about this story? Have you got excited? Tell us what you have felt when reading the history of the humpback whale and the diver. We will be happy to read you!


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