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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Holly Bishop

Mother dolphin filmed carrying dead calf through sea for six days in heartbreaking footage

A grieving mother dolphin carried her dead calf through the Indian Ocean for six days, heartbreaking footage has shown.

Fraggle, a female dolphin who had already lost four calves, was captured on drone video swimming with her dead newborn, who was born only two weeks prior.

Footage captured by Geographe Marine Research, an Australian conservation organisation, shows other dolphins joining her as she embarked on her period of mourning.

Dolphins and whales have previously been documented swimming while carrying their dead calves, in what researchers describe as grief-like behaviour.

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