What happened between the humpback whale and Nan Hauser?

A 50,000-pound humpback whale protected marine biologist Nan Hauser from a 15-foot tiger shark by nudging her for over ten minutes.

Has a humpback whale ever protected a human before?

This is the first recorded instance where a humpback whale has shielded a human from a massive tiger shark.

Where did the humpback whale and tiger shark encounter occur?

The encounter happened in the waters near Muri Beach, Rarotonga, the Cook Islands.

Home / Environment / Whale Saves Snorkeler From Shark Attack

Whale Saves Snorkeler From Shark Attack

7 Mar

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Summary

A humpback whale protected a biologist from a tiger shark.
The whale nudged the snorkeler for over ten minutes.
This event marks the first documented whale protecting a human.

A startling encounter in the waters near Rarotonga, Cook Islands, saw a massive 50,000-pound humpback whale protect a human from a predatory tiger shark. Marine biologist Nan Hauser was nudged and guided by the whale for over ten minutes, unknowingly kept safe from a lurking 15-foot tiger shark. This unprecedented behavior, captured on film, suggests an instinctive altruism in whales towards species other than their own.

Hauser described the experience as potentially deadly, initially unaware of the shark's presence as the whale insisted on keeping her close. Her team, observing from a nearby vessel, were concerned for her safety, fearing the filming of her demise. Another whale reportedly assisted by tail-slapping and driving the shark away from Hauser and her protector.