Witnessing a Gray Whale Calf’s Early Moments

There are few sights more moving than witnessing a newborn Gray whale taking its first breaths. The lagoon cradles them in its shallow waters, offering warmth and safety in their earliest days.

One morning, we spotted a mother lifting her calf gently, helping it reach the surface. The calf’s breathing was still unsteady, its small body learning the rhythm of life above water. It will need to gain strength quickly—soon, it will embark on one of the longest migrations of any mammal on Earth.

In that quiet moment, watching the calf rest against its mother, we are reminded of the fragility of new life. And of why this place, this sanctuary, must remain protected for generations to come.

– Scarlett M, Naturalist/Guide