The ocean is full of mysteries, but few are as profound as the altruism of the humpback whale. For decades, scientists have observed these 40-ton giants intervening in killer whale attacks, acting as bodyguards for entirely different species like seals and sea lions.
They will risk serious injury, sometimes for hours, for no apparent evolutionary reward. This isn’t a one-time event; it’s been documented over 100 times. Is it instinct? A form of preemptive defense? Or is it something more—a form of compassion we are only just beginning to understand?
Whatever the reason, these gentle giants have unofficially become the guardians of the sea.