Humpback whale sex captured for 1st time — and it was between 2 males

globalnews.ca:

Sometimes studying nature gets voyeuristic — but whale watchers off the coast of Hawaii got more than they bargained for when they observed two male humpback whales getting freaky in the wild.The encounter made waves in the scientific marine community, as this was both the first recorded evidence of penetrative sex in the species and the first witnessed homosexual activity between two humpback whales.A study documenting the unprecedented moment, as well as the accompanying photographs, was published in the journal Marine Mammal Science on Tuesday.Two photographers opportunistically captured the historic moment west of Maui in January 2022. Whether they wanted to or not, Lyle Krannichfeld and Brandi Romano got rare front-row seats to the action when the two male humpbacks initiated sex only three to five feet below their boat.The occurrence was then studied and validated by scientists.The study says despite the decades-long efforts of researchers, the sexual behaviour of humpback whales “remains largely undescribed.”According to the study, the two male humpback whales approached the boat and circled one another several times.

One of the whales, labelled Whale A by researchers, was emaciated and was covered in whale lice (called Cyamus boopis), a type of parasite that reproduces on injured or vulnerable whales and other marine mammals.After much circling, Whale B — a larger, healthier whale — approached Whale A and appeared to hold Whale A with its fins before penetrating the genital opening of Whale A. (Male humpback whales, like many cetaceans, have sheathed genitals that retract.)The entire observation lasted about 30 minutes.