A study published by the Marine Mammal Science Journal documents researchers' first-ever sighting of humpback intercourse, which was captured by photographers off the coast of Maui, Hawaii, in January 2022.
There have only been a few reports of seeing the male humpback whale's penis, even after decades of research. Up until recently, no one had recorded the act of copulation by the species until two photographers managed to take pictures of two whales engaging in sexual activity.
Humpback Whales Pictured for the First Time Having Gay Sex
Two whales were observed approaching and circling a boat, and then they were spotted having intercourse approximately three to five meters below the ship.
Since the whales were both males, the images that Lyle Krannichfeld and Brandi Romano obtained represent the first evidence of homosexual behavior in humpback whales, as well as the first sighting of sex in the species. Homosexual behavior is common in the animal kingdom and has been observed in dolphins and orca whales but not in humpback whales.
Stephanie Stack, a whale researcher at the Pacific Whale Foundation and lead author of the new paper, said that humpback whale mating behavior has "remained mostly a mystery until now."
"This discovery challenges our preconceived notions about humpback whale behavior," she said. "While we have long recognized the complex social structures of these incredible creatures, witnessing the copulation of two male whales for the first time is a unique and remarkable event."
Humpback whales are heavy lovers with a maximum length of 16 meters (52 feet) and a maximum weight of 36 tons. Normally, the species migrates to warmer, tropical regions in the fall and winter after spending the summer grazing in polar waters.
Furthermore, commercial whaling once threatened humpback populations, but they have recently increased.
One whale was observed using its pectoral fins to hold the other whale in position when it penetrated it during the intimate encounter captured on camera in Hawaii. The whale looked sick underneath, clearly malnourished, and covered in whale lice, white-colored parasites occasionally appearing on cetaceans.
Male humpback whales typically cover their penises with a structure called a "genital slit" to make it more streamlined while swimming. There are very few known instances of an unsheathed penis, and one of those instances occurred during a whale's urination.
In a recent study, it was discovered that cetaceans, including humpback whales, may engage in same-sex copulation using the genital slit or anus to establish a kind of dominance or social affiliation.
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Homosexuality in Animal Kingdom
According to the National Wildlife Federation, studies have documented same-sex behavior in over 1,500 different types of animals.
There has already been evidence of gay relationships among other marine mammals, such as bottlenose dolphins, gray seals, walruses, and killer whales, in the wild. These homosexual interactions are relatively common.
Furthermore, it is believed that some animal species show gay behavior as a function of dominance and relationship-building, with juveniles practicing for adult mating.
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