Deep Trust

Babysitting a Whale 

Words and photos by Gaelin Rosenwaks

My heart skips a beat every time I see a sperm whale on the surface of the deep azure waters of Dominica. I’m filled with anticipation of meeting them eye to eye in their world. Dominica has a year-round population of resident female whales that live in matrilineal family groups — mothers, grandmothers, babies, aunts, all living together, taking care of one another. It is remarkable to see multiple generations of whales together, grandmothers and mothers teaching their young how to interact with their ocean world.

Having been privileged to spend dozens of days in the water with the whales, I can say that every encounter is different and still equally exciting, since I never know what I will see. As I’ve gotten to know individual whales, identified by unique markings on their flukes (tails), certain whales have welcomed me into their world in a way I could never have imagined. They lock eyes with me in the water, seeming to have a conversation as we share a deep curiosity towards one another. They have let me into intimate moments of nursing, grooming, sleeping, and large, playful gatherings. I feel a deep personal relationship with these whales and can often tell individuals just by looking into their eyes. 

On one of our expeditions, the whales were acting differently — a bit skittish and shy, likely because pilot whales were in the area. Pilot whales have been known to harass other young whales, so it was not unexpected that the sperm whales were staying out of their way. Little did I know, it would lead to one of my most special encounters.

As we headed farther north, away from the pilot whales, we saw one sperm whale on the surface, so we turned off the engine and I quietly slipped into the water. 

"I was lucky enough to become this whale’s babysitter."

I slowly swam towards the whale and saw she had a baby tucked under her, so I stopped swimming to let them be. In this moment, I felt privileged to catch a glimpse of the two of them, but just as I thought the encounter was over, the mother dove down to hunt and the baby turned and beelined straight towards me. I was perplexed, but knew that the young whale could not dive to the depths of its mother, so it would stay at the surface during the adult’s hunting dives. With the pilot whales around, it would not be ideal for the baby to stay on the surface alone, and in the absence of another whale family member to stay with her baby, this mother somehow communicated with the baby to tell him to hang out with me and our boat for safety.

I was lucky enough to become this whale’s babysitter. And for 45 minutes, we played and frolicked in the water. It was like playing with a puppy, but instead of a cute Labrador, it was a 13-foot whale — a little aggressive, but in a playful way. When I turned my hand in a circular motion, the whale would turn over. It would come closer and farther, go vertical in the water column, and swim around me playfully, all while never losing eye contact. This young whale’s teeth had not yet erupted; like humans, their teeth come in well after they are born, probably a good thing for the mothers, who nurse them until they are at least 2 years old. It was incredible that the mother trusted me to take care of her most prized possession, and I did not take this for granted — I had spent time in the water with the mother earlier that day, and perhaps that is when she chose me for this task of babysitting. I was blown away that the mother would entrust us with the care of her baby, but she seemed to know it would be in good hands.

After 45 minutes, and two camera changes for me, I heard sperm whale clicks in the distance, and the baby swam off. Shortly thereafter, I saw the two of them reunited on the surface together. It was a magical moment, and I was honored to be charged with watching over the baby for that brief moment in time.

I can only imagine what they told each other about their individual adventures, the mother about an epic battle with a giant squid, and the baby about dancing and playing with humans.

Keep up with Gaelin and her whale adventures @gaelingoexplore | gaelinrosenwaks.com