Dolphin Mom Adopts a Calf From a Different Species | Nat Geo Wild

A bottlenose dolphin mother off the coast of French Polynesia was spotted caring for a melon-headed whale.
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In 2014, researchers off French Polynesia spotted a bottlenose dolphin mother caring for an unusual-looking calf. That calf was a melon-headed whale, a different genus and species than the mother. Adoption is uncommon among wild mammals, with most occurring between related members of the same species. The whale orphan entered the dolphin group and stayed with the mother longer than even her biological offspring, who vanished mysteriously. She was even seen nursing it at times. Female bottlenose dolphins have been known to “steal” babies of other species for brief periods of times during times of conflict. In this case, the mother made an enormous time commitment to the orphan. During its three years living with this pod of 30 dolphins, the orphan learned several bottlenose behaviors, such as surfing.
Read more in "Dolphin mom adopts whale calf-a first"
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Dolphin Mom Adopts a Calf From a Different Species | Nat Geo Wild
• Dolphin Mom Adopts a C...
Nat Geo Wild
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[@NatGeoWild]

The orphaned calf learned to act like a bottlenose dolphin, gaining acceptance into the community. To learn more, you can read on here: on.natgeo.com/2OsBR7E

[@rohitbauri5958]

All I can say is thank you Nat Geo!

[@NatGeoWild]

We're glad you enjoyed watching!

[@jinx6573]

Bottlenosed dolphins are extremely intelligent! I hope these awesome mammals stay on this planet as long as possible

[@NatGeoWild]

We agree! They are such amazing creatures.

[@JourneyofBella331]

When I read her bio children disappeared I instantly thought the orphan killed them in a lifetime movie twist lol. I even named her Sybil I watch too many lifetime movies

[@Virjunior01]

Yeah you do 😆

[@intlvoiceofreason9239]

i recently read on Reddit that bottlenose Dolphins and false Killer Whales have infrequently merged their pods together for prolonged periods of time. who knew??

[@MercurialRed9]

Well orcas are actually the largest species of dolphin, and of course dolphins, orcas and porpoises are all whales.

[@Scorpiobw]

Humans can learn SO much from Mother Nature. This 'different' baby was openly welcomed into this group of Dolphins. If this doesn't teach us ALL something idk what will. 💙

[@sr-hd3bz]

SCORPIObw 1980 the baby was likly stolen

[@notahotshot]

Right, because no human has ever showed such compassion.

[@WhatWouldVillainsDo]

I live right almost on the gulf of mexico and the dolphins actually come in here to calve.i was walking the bridge from Biloxi Ms to d'iberville and got to see a mother with a calf chasing what I think was a school of pogies truely amazing.

[@duchi882]

*If Jotaro knew of this* He wouldn't mind adopting them right away

[@WickedWildlife]

I just read about this the other day! What amazing animals

[@Lotusblume.8]

Animals are just the best. 🥰🌸💕

[@donaldthompson1909]

Animals have souls are very smart and loving

[@grimx5772]

Tarzan of the seas.

[@lisag5670]

Awwww a mother’s love 💗

[@ricemenarq6230]

*When a Dolphin is more human than humans....*

[@donaldthompson1909]

Well said

[@rohitbauri5958]

When a dolphin is dolphin and not trying to be human.

[@solwen]

Right, because humans have never adopted babies or wounded/orphaned animals.

[@learningbeing7608]

Communism is the solution

[@susanlawless1168]

How cute!!!!

[@jesusnegra123]

I just came here from watching Maquia the movie!!! I need to get over how beautiful that was!!!

[@kingdomoftemplescambodia1562]

they are good mammal.

[@Frankie343]

Amazing . I wish I lived near the ocean

[@NatGeoWild]

We hope you at least get to visit one soon! Lots of amazing things to see.

[@somedudeintheinterweb8665]

You fine with sand

[@chreaturex]

Warms my heart ❤️

[@Advocate_INFJ]

YOINKED a baby and kept it

[@k-krops1999]

So they must be able to communicate

[@mustaneerkhan8097]

That's how dolphins diversify their lineage

[@AzlianaLyana]

Interesting. Any idea what contributes to such behaviour?

[@heavysleeperassclapper6054]

Affection I guess

[@NatGeoWild]

It definitely is a rare occurrence! To learn more, you can read on here: on.natgeo.com/2OsBR7E

[@lukepaler5469]

Amazing nature💖

[@KC-ne1vi]

Some calf, its already about the same size as Mom. In a few years it will most likely be even bigger than her.

[@solwen]

It's all part of the plan of the Melon-head whales. In a few years he will be the leader of the dolphins and make them ready to accept their new whale overlords. Why do you think the dolphin calf "mysteriously" disapeared ? :)

[@mylife-23]

Fun fact, dolphins are in the whale family.

[@vaniacarvalho7111]

Amo os golfinhos.

[@protodominichusplay]

I wonder how if they adopt orca calf?

[@sr-hd3bz]

Kakashi Senpai they wont, orcas eat dolphins very frequently

[@Virjunior01]

@@sr-hd3bz yet they don't eat US...

[@oceanwhisperer]

@@sr-hd3bz not if they adopt a resident orca calf and not transient orca

[@Gothead420]

Funny quirk of evolution...

[@NatGeoWild]

It's definitely a rare occurrence! To learn more about adoption amongst animals, you can read here: on.natgeo.com/2OsBR7E

[@flying-magpie]

I find it funny how everyone's like "How sweet 🥰" Even though the video outright says that female dolphins often tend to kipnap calfs. So there is a very high chance that this baby was stolen from her mother.

[@TimeTheory2099]

Thanks Nat Geo 👍

[@tweetysworld52]

That's Not A Whale, That's A Dolphin Like The Others!! 🐬

[@hitachiuchihamagicwand2776]

So did it stay with the pod?

[@playgt326]

The great circle of life

[@tanusreedey4077]

❤❤❤

[@kandiwolfe1125]

Well how Cool is that?!?;)

[@seafoodwang3740]

I just wonder where is dolphin calf

[@bridge4]

Lol that's unreal

[@nickgehr6916]

Does she call it *Shortie*?

[@youwin8171]

Nice

[@tijeanduncan1468]

It said that it spent 3 years with the pod does that mean it left

[@notahotshot]

Nope it didn't left, it right.

[@izabeltrigueiro8114]

😍

[@romb4649]

Did anyone actually SEE the calf being born?? It's not common but they can and have interbreed....... ???? Just thinking of all possibilities, even if they aren't probabilities. 😊✌🐬

[@CleverClover2023]

The calf isnt a hybrid. It was adopted by the bottlenose dolphin pod.

[@carlosgalvan8478]

Can we get a better name for the melon headed baby?

[@notahotshot]

I vote for "Bucket Head".

[@nhihihi5]

I thought I read cat.

[@itsme_again1374]

this is really sweet but we're destroying their natural habitat because of our plastics and the like :(

[@ladyalaina42]

Talk to China stupid. They, India and south Asia are the huge polluters. US is a fraction of those bozos!!!!

[@sr-hd3bz]

Claudia LeFevre-Lowry but isn’t USA and Canada sending there cheap plastic there to be discarded

[@chhaylong8872]

Claudia LeFevre-Lowry the ignorant. Who make the weapon ??? Who make those nuclear ???

[@Uniquegirlyah]

Dolphins are the Michelle obama of the animal kingdom

[@rodrigobarbosa3596]

Hello I am Rodrigo Barbosa the portuguese. I love dolphins

[@lucreziavilante5993]

If blondes have more fun in the "land world", then bottle-nose dolphins have more fun in the "ocean world!"

[@geass_L]

1view 2 likes Nc youtube

[@scarfacepug4844]

Cap what’s the sauce

[@explodingdynamite7319]

P

[@momsberettas9576]

We need to stop whaling and grant cetaceans non human personhood.

[@grimrides]

❤️❤️❤️