Watch: whale and newborn calf greet boat

By Safia Azizi via SWNS

A group of whale watchers off the coast of Southern California had the rare privilege of witnessing the birth of a grey whale calf.

Video, shared by Capt. Dave's Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari, shows the extraordinary event off the coast of Dana Point, between Los Angeles and San Diego.

The mother brings her newborn right up to a small boat, as if to show it off.

The young calf can be seen learning how to swim with the help of its mother.

A spokesperson said: “As the boat slowly approached the animal, our crew noticed it was behaving sporadically.

"Passengers and crew saw something orange and red colored in the water that they thought might have been kelp. Instead, a newborn calf came up to the surface.

“For a minute, many of us thought it may be a shark or predatory event. But no, instead of the end of life, it was the beginning of a new one!”

Several small boats can be seen in the area, and the massive mother whale swims right up to them with her calf.

Passengers can be heard expressing awe and delight at the rare sight.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service, grey whales are often curious toward boats, making them ideal targets for whale-watching tours.

Eastern North Pacific grey whales migrate 10,000 to 14,000 miles along the U.S. West Coast, and often give birth in the warm waters near Baja California, Mexico.

Newborn calves measure about 14–16 feet long and weigh about 2,000 pounds, according to NOAA Fisheries.