Video of dolphin carrying its dead newborn through the Indian Ocean reveals a deep and old 'mourning ritual'

Fraggle, a dolphin named after the muppet in Fraggle Rock, carried her dead calf for six days in the Indian Ocean, with drone footage captured by Geographe Marine Research, an Australian conservation organisation.

Fraggle's pod of 14 dolphins gathered around her during the mourning period, showing support.

The calf was only two weeks old when it died; Fraggle had previously lost four other calves.

Researchers noted the calf showed a high breathing rate before dying, and winter births in the region pose survival challenges, often linked to respiratory complications from cold air.

Similar behaviour has been documented in over twenty cetacean species, including Tahlequah, an orca mother who carried her dead newborn for 17 days and travelled about 1,000 miles.