Camera captures rare humpback whale collision off Virginia coast

Scientists documented a rare encounter off the Virginia coast when a humpback whale and a large cargo ship collided underwater. Researchers analyzed footage from a camera mounted on the whale's back and released a video clip of the incident. The whale's location following the collision remains unknown.

Off the coast of Virginia in the US, scientists obtained remarkable footage when a camera mounted on a humpback whale captured the moment a massive cargo ship and the marine mammal came into dangerous proximity and collided underwater.

Researchers thoroughly analyzed the footage and released a video clip showing the collision from the whale's perspective. Such material is extraordinarily rare in the scientific world, as attaching cameras to whales' backs provides a unique opportunity to study their behavior and the dangers they encounter in the ocean.

Unfortunately, scientists have been unable to locate the whale since the incident. It is unknown whether the animal sustained injuries in the collision or how it fares afterward. Humpback whales are an endangered species, and collisions with ships are one of the leading causes of their deaths worldwide.