The Heartbreaking Journey of a Mother Dolphin

Off the coast of Guangxi Zhuang (China), a rare and deeply moving moment left an entire group of tourists in silence. Before their eyes, a mother dolphin was desperately carrying the lifeless body of her baby far out to sea, as if searching for a peaceful resting place in the vast ocean.

The waves kept rising. Again and again—at least five times—the calf’s body slipped from her back. Yet the mother never gave up. She turned back each time, gently lifting her baby once more, pushing through the crashing waves with a quiet determination. Watching her, one couldn’t help but realize: grief and maternal love are not unique to humans.

On the calf’s belly was a wound about 30 centimeters long, likely the fatal cut of a ship’s propeller. Death had struck too suddenly, leaving the mother alone, unwilling to accept the loss. She could not let go. She would not abandon her baby in familiar waters, but instead sought to carry it to a deeper, quieter place—perhaps believing it deserved to rest there.

The scene brought tears to those who witnessed it, but it also raised a profound question: could dolphins—and other animals—truly have an awareness of death, and even grieve for it?

This was more than just a touching glimpse of nature. It was a reminder: that maternal love, the bond between mother and child, and the sorrow of parting are truths that transcend species.