Spectacular footage has captured a humpback whale calf swimming close to its mother at a popular beach in a rare sighting.
Video showed the newborn swimming at Cabarita Beach near Tweed Heads on the New South Wales mid-north coast on Wednesday.
The video was shared on Instagram by Brandan Trudinger, a content creator who runs professional photography and video production business Ninefive Creative.
The clip shows the creature and its mother swimming side by side before the mother extends her left fin to allow her baby to snuggle up to her body part.
“I saw what I believe to be a rare albino humpback whale,” Trudinger wrote.
“From what I’ve heard, these sightings are quite rare. Are there any whale experts out there who can share some details?”
Social media users praised Trudinger for capturing the stunning footage, with some clarifying that it was actually a humpback whale.
“Sorry to burst your bubble but he’s a normal newborn baby. He’s very light grey when he’s born,” one wrote.
The incredible video, which was uploaded to social media on Wednesday, shows the baby whale swimming alongside its mother (pictured).
Others shared their amazement at the stunning sight.
“The video is brilliant. Good images,” said one.
“It’s a very interesting image,” said another.
One added: “Mother Nature in all her glory.”
Others said Mr Trudinger was very lucky to find the whales during a very intimate moment during their migration.
“Amazing find. Always a great day when you see a mom and her newborn baby,” added a third.
Humpback whale calves are usually very pale or grey in colour after birth, but the baby begins to darken after a couple of days.
Female humpback whales typically give birth to their calves every two to three years.
The creatures migrate to warmer waters, including parts of northern Queensland, when pregnant to ensure they give birth to their young safely.
The whales then return to Antarctica after the baby develops a layer of blubber to protect itself in the colder waters.
Calves can weigh up to an impressive 3,600 kg when born.
