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Curious Humpback Calf Delights Kayakers in Stunning Encounter
24 Oct
Summary
- Drone footage captures baby humpback whale swimming near kayakers
- Calf curiously approaches kayaks, almost touching them
- Whales known to interact with kayakers in coastal areas

On October 24, 2025, drone footage captured a heartwarming encounter between a curious humpback whale calf and a group of kayakers in the waters around New South Wales, Australia. The video, recorded by Shaun Arthurson, shows the baby whale swimming within a few feet of the kayaks, lifting its nose near the boats, almost touching the tips of the kayaks.
Before the calf gets too close, it dives deeper into the blue water, but not before playfully splashing the kayakers. According to Caters News, the kayakers appeared grateful and stunned by the close encounter with the animal. Humpback whales are known to say hello to kayakers when they are swimming nearby, and this calf was no exception, delighting the onlookers with its playful antics.
Arthurson shared the footage of the magical moment on his Instagram account, captioning it, "Unbelievable scenes at Maroubra this afternoon -- a curious humpback calf got up close with a group of kayakers!" The video has since captured the hearts of many, with one commenter writing, "Wow wow! I hope you can find those kayakers so they can see this great footage."




