![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/1-1.jpg\")
Nan Hauser, a 63-year-old marine biologist with several decades of research and experience under her belt, dedicated her life to studying and helping whales. This Mainer has traveled the worldwide to collect as much information as possible, and she\u2019s even spent time on fighting for whale protection and rights. One of the perks of working as a marine biologist is spending plenty of time at sea, and while she\u2019s an expert swimmer and paddler, nothing could have prepared her for what took place in September 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
2. Cook Islands<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2-2.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIn 2017, Nan had set up a home base in Rarotonga, the largest of the Cook Islands. Her greatest success story actually took place on the Cook Islands when she successfully turned over 770,000 square miles of the island\u2019s waters into a sanctuary for whales. In 2001, the sanctuary grew to 200 nautical miles off the coast of each island. One humpback whale decided to make good of the sanctuary in 2017, but their encounter was far from routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
3. A Scary Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/3-2.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIn the summer of 2017, Nan, accompanied by a vessel of fellow researchers, had taken to the sea for a routine swim. She was being watched carefully by the crew so, at least in Nan\u2019s mind, perhaps nothing out of the ordinary would take place. How wrong she would be. Her waterproof camera documented a massive humpback \u2013 likely weighing over 20 tons and measuring more than 50 meters from nose to tail \u2013 began swimming right toward her. She was fully aware that this was not normal whale behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
4. Bizarre<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/4-2.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThroughout Nan\u2019s experience with whales, it was usually her who would swim up to whales first and make contact. Observing an incoming whale of substantial proportions was different and not in a calming way. As the whale drew closer, she realized that it would be impossible to swim out of the crash zone. A head-on collision with a whale never has a good ending, but things would take an unexpected turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
5. Trapped<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/5-3.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumans are not a part of the whale\u2019s diet, but as we mentioned earlier, not much is known about their behavior. Perhaps Nan would run into a particularly dangerous humpback with an appetite for homo sapiens. Initially, Nan wasn\u2019t concerned since whales typically either swim past humans, but this humpback was not slowing down. Nan prepared for the worst as the humpback rammed into her body. She was pinned on the whale\u2019s head with nowhere to go and no hope of making it out without injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
6. Fighting for Her Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/6-2.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan had lost hope. Nobody to her knowledge had ever documented being pinned to a high-speed whale\u2019s head. More concerning was the whale, seemingly oblivious to her presence, was swimming farther and farther away from the research vessel. Without prior knowledge of what to do in this particular situation, Nan had no choice but to let the currents, and the humpback, do their thing. Even if the humpback had no malice toward humans, it would most likely leave Nan physically and quite possibly lost at sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
7. Whale Power<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/7-2.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBeing an expert at whales, Nan had a general idea of how much damage a whale can cause to the feeble human body. At the very least, she would escape with a few broken bones, but when you\u2019re dealing with a massive 20-plus ton beast, death is the first thing to come to mind. Nan was worried that her final breaths would be spent with the very creature she dedicated her life to saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
8. Slap of Death<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/8-2.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHer experience with whales told her that as long as she remained pinned to its head, she might be able to leave relatively unscathed. However, the smallest movement on her part might cause her to swing to either of the whale\u2019s sides and, if luck was not on her side, she would experience the greatest slap of her life by either a fin or the whale\u2019s tail. A mighty slap is enough to toss a person several feet into the air and fall into the water unconscious. With the severity of her situation on her mind, she had to formulate an escape plan. Quick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
9. Remain Calm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/9-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s the first thing you would do if you found yourself being dragged farther and farther away from the shore by a 50-ton whale? If it were us, remaining calm would be at the bottom of our list, but Nan, an experienced diver and seasoned marine biologist, knew she had to stay calm. She knew that humpbacks don\u2019t have teeth but rather soft baleen in their mouth for eating krill and small fish. She also knew that her best bet of staying alive was distancing herself from the whale and returning back to her vessel. To do that, she tried to collect her cool \u2013 as long as the whale wasn\u2019t aggravated, perhaps it would grow bored and leave her alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
10. Fearing for Her Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/10.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan is well-known for her feat of spiders, a fear that her colleagues usually tease her about. After all, how can you spend your life around humongous beasts while running away from tiny creepy-crawlies? During this frightening encounter, Nan was contemplating a change of phobia. She knew that whales generally leave humans alone, so why was this particular humpback dedicated to dragging her farther and farther away from safety? <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. First-Hand Footage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/11-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite fearing for her life, her science-y side told her to continue documenting the whale\u2019s abnormal behavior. This was her chance to record the behavior of a seemingly hostile whale and how it treats humans. However, she was very well aware that she was quite possibly recording her final moments on Earth. Her colleagues were watching her closely and trying to help, but there\u2019s only so much you can do from a vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Watch and Wait<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/12-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan knew that diving alone was not a good idea so a fellow researcher had put on his suit and accompanied her underwater. He, however, was not nearly as experienced as Nan, and as the humpback rammed into her, he had no choice but to follow, watch, and wait. Nobody, not even the person who was physically closest to her, could offer a helping hand. Nan was on her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Not Slowing Down<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/13-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMuch to her dismay, this aggressive humpback was not slowing down. It was taking her farther away from her fellow researchers, and eventually, she would be stranded in the middle of the ocean with a nasty whale for company. She was soon almost out of sight of the research vessel, but that wasn\u2019t the worst thing to happen to her. Nan spotted another enormous aquatic creature heading in her direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Double the Trouble<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/14.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan spotted another humpback heading her way. Whether the first humpback decided to call for backup or coincidentally run into another humpback is anyone\u2019s guess. Initially, Nan was relieved to see the second whale maintain its distance, but she knew something was wrong. Both whales \u2013 the aggressor and the bystander \u2013 were behaving rather erratically, and Nan couldn\u2019t figure out for the life of her what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
15. More Oddities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/15-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being in a sticky situation, her researcher side told her to document the second whale\u2019s odd behavior as well. It was slapping its tail on the surface of the water every so often, and it was seemingly slapping at something right behind it. Nan couldn\u2019t figure out why both of these whales were behaving abnormally. One was pushing her farther away from safety while the other was swatting its tail at something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. Injured but OK<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/16-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite the severity of the situation, Nan was relatively unharmed, but she knew things might change in the blink of an eye. Since first encountering the whale, Nan had already spent 10 excruciating minutes with her aggressor. Rough barnacles on the whale\u2019s skin would rip her suit and skin whenever they made contact. Whatever was going on, Nan knew that she would not leave without a few more cuts and bruises. Not long after, something clicked in Nan\u2019s mind. She finally understood what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. Stay by His Side<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the last 15 minutes, Nan was in desperation mode and trying to flee her captor any way she could. She might end up receiving a beating in the process, but anything would be better than being stranded in the middle of the ocean. She managed to swim slightly out of the humpback\u2019s trajectory, but it seemed dedicated to ramming into and dragging her with him. Despite her valiant efforts, this humpback was not letting go. But then it came to her \u2013 things suddenly made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. Shark Territory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/18-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe second humpback\u2019s erratic behavior was due to being pursued closely by nothing other than a predatory tiger shark, a species of shark that is known to cause harm to humans. Nan even caught a glimpse of the 15-foot predator, and if it caught sight of her as well, she could have up being lunch rather than a punching bag. It dawned on Nan that the humpbacks were attempting to save her! But as we all know, attempting to save and actually being saved are two very different stories. Nan was in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Man-Eating Tiger Sharks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/19-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/20-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/21-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/22-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/23-2.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/24-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/25-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/26-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/27-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/28-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/29-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/30-1.jpg\")
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
In 2017, Nan had set up a home base in Rarotonga, the largest of the Cook Islands. Her greatest success story actually took place on the Cook Islands when she successfully turned over 770,000 square miles of the island\u2019s waters into a sanctuary for whales. In 2001, the sanctuary grew to 200 nautical miles off the coast of each island. One humpback whale decided to make good of the sanctuary in 2017, but their encounter was far from routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
3. A Scary Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIn the summer of 2017, Nan, accompanied by a vessel of fellow researchers, had taken to the sea for a routine swim. She was being watched carefully by the crew so, at least in Nan\u2019s mind, perhaps nothing out of the ordinary would take place. How wrong she would be. Her waterproof camera documented a massive humpback \u2013 likely weighing over 20 tons and measuring more than 50 meters from nose to tail \u2013 began swimming right toward her. She was fully aware that this was not normal whale behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
4. Bizarre<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThroughout Nan\u2019s experience with whales, it was usually her who would swim up to whales first and make contact. Observing an incoming whale of substantial proportions was different and not in a calming way. As the whale drew closer, she realized that it would be impossible to swim out of the crash zone. A head-on collision with a whale never has a good ending, but things would take an unexpected turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
5. Trapped<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumans are not a part of the whale\u2019s diet, but as we mentioned earlier, not much is known about their behavior. Perhaps Nan would run into a particularly dangerous humpback with an appetite for homo sapiens. Initially, Nan wasn\u2019t concerned since whales typically either swim past humans, but this humpback was not slowing down. Nan prepared for the worst as the humpback rammed into her body. She was pinned on the whale\u2019s head with nowhere to go and no hope of making it out without injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
6. Fighting for Her Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan had lost hope. Nobody to her knowledge had ever documented being pinned to a high-speed whale\u2019s head. More concerning was the whale, seemingly oblivious to her presence, was swimming farther and farther away from the research vessel. Without prior knowledge of what to do in this particular situation, Nan had no choice but to let the currents, and the humpback, do their thing. Even if the humpback had no malice toward humans, it would most likely leave Nan physically and quite possibly lost at sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
7. Whale Power<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBeing an expert at whales, Nan had a general idea of how much damage a whale can cause to the feeble human body. At the very least, she would escape with a few broken bones, but when you\u2019re dealing with a massive 20-plus ton beast, death is the first thing to come to mind. Nan was worried that her final breaths would be spent with the very creature she dedicated her life to saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
8. Slap of Death<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHer experience with whales told her that as long as she remained pinned to its head, she might be able to leave relatively unscathed. However, the smallest movement on her part might cause her to swing to either of the whale\u2019s sides and, if luck was not on her side, she would experience the greatest slap of her life by either a fin or the whale\u2019s tail. A mighty slap is enough to toss a person several feet into the air and fall into the water unconscious. With the severity of her situation on her mind, she had to formulate an escape plan. Quick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
9. Remain Calm<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s the first thing you would do if you found yourself being dragged farther and farther away from the shore by a 50-ton whale? If it were us, remaining calm would be at the bottom of our list, but Nan, an experienced diver and seasoned marine biologist, knew she had to stay calm. She knew that humpbacks don\u2019t have teeth but rather soft baleen in their mouth for eating krill and small fish. She also knew that her best bet of staying alive was distancing herself from the whale and returning back to her vessel. To do that, she tried to collect her cool \u2013 as long as the whale wasn\u2019t aggravated, perhaps it would grow bored and leave her alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
10. Fearing for Her Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan is well-known for her feat of spiders, a fear that her colleagues usually tease her about. After all, how can you spend your life around humongous beasts while running away from tiny creepy-crawlies? During this frightening encounter, Nan was contemplating a change of phobia. She knew that whales generally leave humans alone, so why was this particular humpback dedicated to dragging her farther and farther away from safety? <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. First-Hand Footage<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite fearing for her life, her science-y side told her to continue documenting the whale\u2019s abnormal behavior. This was her chance to record the behavior of a seemingly hostile whale and how it treats humans. However, she was very well aware that she was quite possibly recording her final moments on Earth. Her colleagues were watching her closely and trying to help, but there\u2019s only so much you can do from a vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Watch and Wait<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan knew that diving alone was not a good idea so a fellow researcher had put on his suit and accompanied her underwater. He, however, was not nearly as experienced as Nan, and as the humpback rammed into her, he had no choice but to follow, watch, and wait. Nobody, not even the person who was physically closest to her, could offer a helping hand. Nan was on her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Not Slowing Down<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMuch to her dismay, this aggressive humpback was not slowing down. It was taking her farther away from her fellow researchers, and eventually, she would be stranded in the middle of the ocean with a nasty whale for company. She was soon almost out of sight of the research vessel, but that wasn\u2019t the worst thing to happen to her. Nan spotted another enormous aquatic creature heading in her direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Double the Trouble<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan spotted another humpback heading her way. Whether the first humpback decided to call for backup or coincidentally run into another humpback is anyone\u2019s guess. Initially, Nan was relieved to see the second whale maintain its distance, but she knew something was wrong. Both whales \u2013 the aggressor and the bystander \u2013 were behaving rather erratically, and Nan couldn\u2019t figure out for the life of her what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
15. More Oddities<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being in a sticky situation, her researcher side told her to document the second whale\u2019s odd behavior as well. It was slapping its tail on the surface of the water every so often, and it was seemingly slapping at something right behind it. Nan couldn\u2019t figure out why both of these whales were behaving abnormally. One was pushing her farther away from safety while the other was swatting its tail at something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. Injured but OK<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite the severity of the situation, Nan was relatively unharmed, but she knew things might change in the blink of an eye. Since first encountering the whale, Nan had already spent 10 excruciating minutes with her aggressor. Rough barnacles on the whale\u2019s skin would rip her suit and skin whenever they made contact. Whatever was going on, Nan knew that she would not leave without a few more cuts and bruises. Not long after, something clicked in Nan\u2019s mind. She finally understood what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. Stay by His Side<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the last 15 minutes, Nan was in desperation mode and trying to flee her captor any way she could. She might end up receiving a beating in the process, but anything would be better than being stranded in the middle of the ocean. She managed to swim slightly out of the humpback\u2019s trajectory, but it seemed dedicated to ramming into and dragging her with him. Despite her valiant efforts, this humpback was not letting go. But then it came to her \u2013 things suddenly made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. Shark Territory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe second humpback\u2019s erratic behavior was due to being pursued closely by nothing other than a predatory tiger shark, a species of shark that is known to cause harm to humans. Nan even caught a glimpse of the 15-foot predator, and if it caught sight of her as well, she could have up being lunch rather than a punching bag. It dawned on Nan that the humpbacks were attempting to save her! But as we all know, attempting to save and actually being saved are two very different stories. Nan was in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Man-Eating Tiger Sharks<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
In the summer of 2017, Nan, accompanied by a vessel of fellow researchers, had taken to the sea for a routine swim. She was being watched carefully by the crew so, at least in Nan\u2019s mind, perhaps nothing out of the ordinary would take place. How wrong she would be. Her waterproof camera documented a massive humpback \u2013 likely weighing over 20 tons and measuring more than 50 meters from nose to tail \u2013 began swimming right toward her. She was fully aware that this was not normal whale behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
4. Bizarre<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThroughout Nan\u2019s experience with whales, it was usually her who would swim up to whales first and make contact. Observing an incoming whale of substantial proportions was different and not in a calming way. As the whale drew closer, she realized that it would be impossible to swim out of the crash zone. A head-on collision with a whale never has a good ending, but things would take an unexpected turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
5. Trapped<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumans are not a part of the whale\u2019s diet, but as we mentioned earlier, not much is known about their behavior. Perhaps Nan would run into a particularly dangerous humpback with an appetite for homo sapiens. Initially, Nan wasn\u2019t concerned since whales typically either swim past humans, but this humpback was not slowing down. Nan prepared for the worst as the humpback rammed into her body. She was pinned on the whale\u2019s head with nowhere to go and no hope of making it out without injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
6. Fighting for Her Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan had lost hope. Nobody to her knowledge had ever documented being pinned to a high-speed whale\u2019s head. More concerning was the whale, seemingly oblivious to her presence, was swimming farther and farther away from the research vessel. Without prior knowledge of what to do in this particular situation, Nan had no choice but to let the currents, and the humpback, do their thing. Even if the humpback had no malice toward humans, it would most likely leave Nan physically and quite possibly lost at sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
7. Whale Power<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBeing an expert at whales, Nan had a general idea of how much damage a whale can cause to the feeble human body. At the very least, she would escape with a few broken bones, but when you\u2019re dealing with a massive 20-plus ton beast, death is the first thing to come to mind. Nan was worried that her final breaths would be spent with the very creature she dedicated her life to saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
8. Slap of Death<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHer experience with whales told her that as long as she remained pinned to its head, she might be able to leave relatively unscathed. However, the smallest movement on her part might cause her to swing to either of the whale\u2019s sides and, if luck was not on her side, she would experience the greatest slap of her life by either a fin or the whale\u2019s tail. A mighty slap is enough to toss a person several feet into the air and fall into the water unconscious. With the severity of her situation on her mind, she had to formulate an escape plan. Quick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
9. Remain Calm<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s the first thing you would do if you found yourself being dragged farther and farther away from the shore by a 50-ton whale? If it were us, remaining calm would be at the bottom of our list, but Nan, an experienced diver and seasoned marine biologist, knew she had to stay calm. She knew that humpbacks don\u2019t have teeth but rather soft baleen in their mouth for eating krill and small fish. She also knew that her best bet of staying alive was distancing herself from the whale and returning back to her vessel. To do that, she tried to collect her cool \u2013 as long as the whale wasn\u2019t aggravated, perhaps it would grow bored and leave her alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
10. Fearing for Her Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan is well-known for her feat of spiders, a fear that her colleagues usually tease her about. After all, how can you spend your life around humongous beasts while running away from tiny creepy-crawlies? During this frightening encounter, Nan was contemplating a change of phobia. She knew that whales generally leave humans alone, so why was this particular humpback dedicated to dragging her farther and farther away from safety? <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. First-Hand Footage<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite fearing for her life, her science-y side told her to continue documenting the whale\u2019s abnormal behavior. This was her chance to record the behavior of a seemingly hostile whale and how it treats humans. However, she was very well aware that she was quite possibly recording her final moments on Earth. Her colleagues were watching her closely and trying to help, but there\u2019s only so much you can do from a vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Watch and Wait<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan knew that diving alone was not a good idea so a fellow researcher had put on his suit and accompanied her underwater. He, however, was not nearly as experienced as Nan, and as the humpback rammed into her, he had no choice but to follow, watch, and wait. Nobody, not even the person who was physically closest to her, could offer a helping hand. Nan was on her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Not Slowing Down<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMuch to her dismay, this aggressive humpback was not slowing down. It was taking her farther away from her fellow researchers, and eventually, she would be stranded in the middle of the ocean with a nasty whale for company. She was soon almost out of sight of the research vessel, but that wasn\u2019t the worst thing to happen to her. Nan spotted another enormous aquatic creature heading in her direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Double the Trouble<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan spotted another humpback heading her way. Whether the first humpback decided to call for backup or coincidentally run into another humpback is anyone\u2019s guess. Initially, Nan was relieved to see the second whale maintain its distance, but she knew something was wrong. Both whales \u2013 the aggressor and the bystander \u2013 were behaving rather erratically, and Nan couldn\u2019t figure out for the life of her what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
15. More Oddities<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being in a sticky situation, her researcher side told her to document the second whale\u2019s odd behavior as well. It was slapping its tail on the surface of the water every so often, and it was seemingly slapping at something right behind it. Nan couldn\u2019t figure out why both of these whales were behaving abnormally. One was pushing her farther away from safety while the other was swatting its tail at something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. Injured but OK<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite the severity of the situation, Nan was relatively unharmed, but she knew things might change in the blink of an eye. Since first encountering the whale, Nan had already spent 10 excruciating minutes with her aggressor. Rough barnacles on the whale\u2019s skin would rip her suit and skin whenever they made contact. Whatever was going on, Nan knew that she would not leave without a few more cuts and bruises. Not long after, something clicked in Nan\u2019s mind. She finally understood what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. Stay by His Side<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the last 15 minutes, Nan was in desperation mode and trying to flee her captor any way she could. She might end up receiving a beating in the process, but anything would be better than being stranded in the middle of the ocean. She managed to swim slightly out of the humpback\u2019s trajectory, but it seemed dedicated to ramming into and dragging her with him. Despite her valiant efforts, this humpback was not letting go. But then it came to her \u2013 things suddenly made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. Shark Territory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe second humpback\u2019s erratic behavior was due to being pursued closely by nothing other than a predatory tiger shark, a species of shark that is known to cause harm to humans. Nan even caught a glimpse of the 15-foot predator, and if it caught sight of her as well, she could have up being lunch rather than a punching bag. It dawned on Nan that the humpbacks were attempting to save her! But as we all know, attempting to save and actually being saved are two very different stories. Nan was in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Man-Eating Tiger Sharks<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Throughout Nan\u2019s experience with whales, it was usually her who would swim up to whales first and make contact. Observing an incoming whale of substantial proportions was different and not in a calming way. As the whale drew closer, she realized that it would be impossible to swim out of the crash zone. A head-on collision with a whale never has a good ending, but things would take an unexpected turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
5. Trapped<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumans are not a part of the whale\u2019s diet, but as we mentioned earlier, not much is known about their behavior. Perhaps Nan would run into a particularly dangerous humpback with an appetite for homo sapiens. Initially, Nan wasn\u2019t concerned since whales typically either swim past humans, but this humpback was not slowing down. Nan prepared for the worst as the humpback rammed into her body. She was pinned on the whale\u2019s head with nowhere to go and no hope of making it out without injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
6. Fighting for Her Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan had lost hope. Nobody to her knowledge had ever documented being pinned to a high-speed whale\u2019s head. More concerning was the whale, seemingly oblivious to her presence, was swimming farther and farther away from the research vessel. Without prior knowledge of what to do in this particular situation, Nan had no choice but to let the currents, and the humpback, do their thing. Even if the humpback had no malice toward humans, it would most likely leave Nan physically and quite possibly lost at sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
7. Whale Power<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBeing an expert at whales, Nan had a general idea of how much damage a whale can cause to the feeble human body. At the very least, she would escape with a few broken bones, but when you\u2019re dealing with a massive 20-plus ton beast, death is the first thing to come to mind. Nan was worried that her final breaths would be spent with the very creature she dedicated her life to saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
8. Slap of Death<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHer experience with whales told her that as long as she remained pinned to its head, she might be able to leave relatively unscathed. However, the smallest movement on her part might cause her to swing to either of the whale\u2019s sides and, if luck was not on her side, she would experience the greatest slap of her life by either a fin or the whale\u2019s tail. A mighty slap is enough to toss a person several feet into the air and fall into the water unconscious. With the severity of her situation on her mind, she had to formulate an escape plan. Quick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
9. Remain Calm<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s the first thing you would do if you found yourself being dragged farther and farther away from the shore by a 50-ton whale? If it were us, remaining calm would be at the bottom of our list, but Nan, an experienced diver and seasoned marine biologist, knew she had to stay calm. She knew that humpbacks don\u2019t have teeth but rather soft baleen in their mouth for eating krill and small fish. She also knew that her best bet of staying alive was distancing herself from the whale and returning back to her vessel. To do that, she tried to collect her cool \u2013 as long as the whale wasn\u2019t aggravated, perhaps it would grow bored and leave her alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
10. Fearing for Her Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan is well-known for her feat of spiders, a fear that her colleagues usually tease her about. After all, how can you spend your life around humongous beasts while running away from tiny creepy-crawlies? During this frightening encounter, Nan was contemplating a change of phobia. She knew that whales generally leave humans alone, so why was this particular humpback dedicated to dragging her farther and farther away from safety? <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. First-Hand Footage<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite fearing for her life, her science-y side told her to continue documenting the whale\u2019s abnormal behavior. This was her chance to record the behavior of a seemingly hostile whale and how it treats humans. However, she was very well aware that she was quite possibly recording her final moments on Earth. Her colleagues were watching her closely and trying to help, but there\u2019s only so much you can do from a vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Watch and Wait<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan knew that diving alone was not a good idea so a fellow researcher had put on his suit and accompanied her underwater. He, however, was not nearly as experienced as Nan, and as the humpback rammed into her, he had no choice but to follow, watch, and wait. Nobody, not even the person who was physically closest to her, could offer a helping hand. Nan was on her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Not Slowing Down<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMuch to her dismay, this aggressive humpback was not slowing down. It was taking her farther away from her fellow researchers, and eventually, she would be stranded in the middle of the ocean with a nasty whale for company. She was soon almost out of sight of the research vessel, but that wasn\u2019t the worst thing to happen to her. Nan spotted another enormous aquatic creature heading in her direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Double the Trouble<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan spotted another humpback heading her way. Whether the first humpback decided to call for backup or coincidentally run into another humpback is anyone\u2019s guess. Initially, Nan was relieved to see the second whale maintain its distance, but she knew something was wrong. Both whales \u2013 the aggressor and the bystander \u2013 were behaving rather erratically, and Nan couldn\u2019t figure out for the life of her what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
15. More Oddities<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being in a sticky situation, her researcher side told her to document the second whale\u2019s odd behavior as well. It was slapping its tail on the surface of the water every so often, and it was seemingly slapping at something right behind it. Nan couldn\u2019t figure out why both of these whales were behaving abnormally. One was pushing her farther away from safety while the other was swatting its tail at something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. Injured but OK<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite the severity of the situation, Nan was relatively unharmed, but she knew things might change in the blink of an eye. Since first encountering the whale, Nan had already spent 10 excruciating minutes with her aggressor. Rough barnacles on the whale\u2019s skin would rip her suit and skin whenever they made contact. Whatever was going on, Nan knew that she would not leave without a few more cuts and bruises. Not long after, something clicked in Nan\u2019s mind. She finally understood what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. Stay by His Side<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the last 15 minutes, Nan was in desperation mode and trying to flee her captor any way she could. She might end up receiving a beating in the process, but anything would be better than being stranded in the middle of the ocean. She managed to swim slightly out of the humpback\u2019s trajectory, but it seemed dedicated to ramming into and dragging her with him. Despite her valiant efforts, this humpback was not letting go. But then it came to her \u2013 things suddenly made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. Shark Territory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe second humpback\u2019s erratic behavior was due to being pursued closely by nothing other than a predatory tiger shark, a species of shark that is known to cause harm to humans. Nan even caught a glimpse of the 15-foot predator, and if it caught sight of her as well, she could have up being lunch rather than a punching bag. It dawned on Nan that the humpbacks were attempting to save her! But as we all know, attempting to save and actually being saved are two very different stories. Nan was in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Man-Eating Tiger Sharks<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Humans are not a part of the whale\u2019s diet, but as we mentioned earlier, not much is known about their behavior. Perhaps Nan would run into a particularly dangerous humpback with an appetite for homo sapiens. Initially, Nan wasn\u2019t concerned since whales typically either swim past humans, but this humpback was not slowing down. Nan prepared for the worst as the humpback rammed into her body. She was pinned on the whale\u2019s head with nowhere to go and no hope of making it out without injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
6. Fighting for Her Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan had lost hope. Nobody to her knowledge had ever documented being pinned to a high-speed whale\u2019s head. More concerning was the whale, seemingly oblivious to her presence, was swimming farther and farther away from the research vessel. Without prior knowledge of what to do in this particular situation, Nan had no choice but to let the currents, and the humpback, do their thing. Even if the humpback had no malice toward humans, it would most likely leave Nan physically and quite possibly lost at sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
7. Whale Power<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBeing an expert at whales, Nan had a general idea of how much damage a whale can cause to the feeble human body. At the very least, she would escape with a few broken bones, but when you\u2019re dealing with a massive 20-plus ton beast, death is the first thing to come to mind. Nan was worried that her final breaths would be spent with the very creature she dedicated her life to saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
8. Slap of Death<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHer experience with whales told her that as long as she remained pinned to its head, she might be able to leave relatively unscathed. However, the smallest movement on her part might cause her to swing to either of the whale\u2019s sides and, if luck was not on her side, she would experience the greatest slap of her life by either a fin or the whale\u2019s tail. A mighty slap is enough to toss a person several feet into the air and fall into the water unconscious. With the severity of her situation on her mind, she had to formulate an escape plan. Quick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
9. Remain Calm<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s the first thing you would do if you found yourself being dragged farther and farther away from the shore by a 50-ton whale? If it were us, remaining calm would be at the bottom of our list, but Nan, an experienced diver and seasoned marine biologist, knew she had to stay calm. She knew that humpbacks don\u2019t have teeth but rather soft baleen in their mouth for eating krill and small fish. She also knew that her best bet of staying alive was distancing herself from the whale and returning back to her vessel. To do that, she tried to collect her cool \u2013 as long as the whale wasn\u2019t aggravated, perhaps it would grow bored and leave her alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
10. Fearing for Her Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan is well-known for her feat of spiders, a fear that her colleagues usually tease her about. After all, how can you spend your life around humongous beasts while running away from tiny creepy-crawlies? During this frightening encounter, Nan was contemplating a change of phobia. She knew that whales generally leave humans alone, so why was this particular humpback dedicated to dragging her farther and farther away from safety? <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. First-Hand Footage<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite fearing for her life, her science-y side told her to continue documenting the whale\u2019s abnormal behavior. This was her chance to record the behavior of a seemingly hostile whale and how it treats humans. However, she was very well aware that she was quite possibly recording her final moments on Earth. Her colleagues were watching her closely and trying to help, but there\u2019s only so much you can do from a vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Watch and Wait<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan knew that diving alone was not a good idea so a fellow researcher had put on his suit and accompanied her underwater. He, however, was not nearly as experienced as Nan, and as the humpback rammed into her, he had no choice but to follow, watch, and wait. Nobody, not even the person who was physically closest to her, could offer a helping hand. Nan was on her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Not Slowing Down<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMuch to her dismay, this aggressive humpback was not slowing down. It was taking her farther away from her fellow researchers, and eventually, she would be stranded in the middle of the ocean with a nasty whale for company. She was soon almost out of sight of the research vessel, but that wasn\u2019t the worst thing to happen to her. Nan spotted another enormous aquatic creature heading in her direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Double the Trouble<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan spotted another humpback heading her way. Whether the first humpback decided to call for backup or coincidentally run into another humpback is anyone\u2019s guess. Initially, Nan was relieved to see the second whale maintain its distance, but she knew something was wrong. Both whales \u2013 the aggressor and the bystander \u2013 were behaving rather erratically, and Nan couldn\u2019t figure out for the life of her what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
15. More Oddities<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being in a sticky situation, her researcher side told her to document the second whale\u2019s odd behavior as well. It was slapping its tail on the surface of the water every so often, and it was seemingly slapping at something right behind it. Nan couldn\u2019t figure out why both of these whales were behaving abnormally. One was pushing her farther away from safety while the other was swatting its tail at something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. Injured but OK<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite the severity of the situation, Nan was relatively unharmed, but she knew things might change in the blink of an eye. Since first encountering the whale, Nan had already spent 10 excruciating minutes with her aggressor. Rough barnacles on the whale\u2019s skin would rip her suit and skin whenever they made contact. Whatever was going on, Nan knew that she would not leave without a few more cuts and bruises. Not long after, something clicked in Nan\u2019s mind. She finally understood what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. Stay by His Side<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the last 15 minutes, Nan was in desperation mode and trying to flee her captor any way she could. She might end up receiving a beating in the process, but anything would be better than being stranded in the middle of the ocean. She managed to swim slightly out of the humpback\u2019s trajectory, but it seemed dedicated to ramming into and dragging her with him. Despite her valiant efforts, this humpback was not letting go. But then it came to her \u2013 things suddenly made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. Shark Territory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe second humpback\u2019s erratic behavior was due to being pursued closely by nothing other than a predatory tiger shark, a species of shark that is known to cause harm to humans. Nan even caught a glimpse of the 15-foot predator, and if it caught sight of her as well, she could have up being lunch rather than a punching bag. It dawned on Nan that the humpbacks were attempting to save her! But as we all know, attempting to save and actually being saved are two very different stories. Nan was in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Man-Eating Tiger Sharks<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Nan had lost hope. Nobody to her knowledge had ever documented being pinned to a high-speed whale\u2019s head. More concerning was the whale, seemingly oblivious to her presence, was swimming farther and farther away from the research vessel. Without prior knowledge of what to do in this particular situation, Nan had no choice but to let the currents, and the humpback, do their thing. Even if the humpback had no malice toward humans, it would most likely leave Nan physically and quite possibly lost at sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
7. Whale Power<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBeing an expert at whales, Nan had a general idea of how much damage a whale can cause to the feeble human body. At the very least, she would escape with a few broken bones, but when you\u2019re dealing with a massive 20-plus ton beast, death is the first thing to come to mind. Nan was worried that her final breaths would be spent with the very creature she dedicated her life to saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
8. Slap of Death<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHer experience with whales told her that as long as she remained pinned to its head, she might be able to leave relatively unscathed. However, the smallest movement on her part might cause her to swing to either of the whale\u2019s sides and, if luck was not on her side, she would experience the greatest slap of her life by either a fin or the whale\u2019s tail. A mighty slap is enough to toss a person several feet into the air and fall into the water unconscious. With the severity of her situation on her mind, she had to formulate an escape plan. Quick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
9. Remain Calm<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s the first thing you would do if you found yourself being dragged farther and farther away from the shore by a 50-ton whale? If it were us, remaining calm would be at the bottom of our list, but Nan, an experienced diver and seasoned marine biologist, knew she had to stay calm. She knew that humpbacks don\u2019t have teeth but rather soft baleen in their mouth for eating krill and small fish. She also knew that her best bet of staying alive was distancing herself from the whale and returning back to her vessel. To do that, she tried to collect her cool \u2013 as long as the whale wasn\u2019t aggravated, perhaps it would grow bored and leave her alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
10. Fearing for Her Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan is well-known for her feat of spiders, a fear that her colleagues usually tease her about. After all, how can you spend your life around humongous beasts while running away from tiny creepy-crawlies? During this frightening encounter, Nan was contemplating a change of phobia. She knew that whales generally leave humans alone, so why was this particular humpback dedicated to dragging her farther and farther away from safety? <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. First-Hand Footage<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite fearing for her life, her science-y side told her to continue documenting the whale\u2019s abnormal behavior. This was her chance to record the behavior of a seemingly hostile whale and how it treats humans. However, she was very well aware that she was quite possibly recording her final moments on Earth. Her colleagues were watching her closely and trying to help, but there\u2019s only so much you can do from a vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Watch and Wait<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan knew that diving alone was not a good idea so a fellow researcher had put on his suit and accompanied her underwater. He, however, was not nearly as experienced as Nan, and as the humpback rammed into her, he had no choice but to follow, watch, and wait. Nobody, not even the person who was physically closest to her, could offer a helping hand. Nan was on her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Not Slowing Down<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMuch to her dismay, this aggressive humpback was not slowing down. It was taking her farther away from her fellow researchers, and eventually, she would be stranded in the middle of the ocean with a nasty whale for company. She was soon almost out of sight of the research vessel, but that wasn\u2019t the worst thing to happen to her. Nan spotted another enormous aquatic creature heading in her direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Double the Trouble<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan spotted another humpback heading her way. Whether the first humpback decided to call for backup or coincidentally run into another humpback is anyone\u2019s guess. Initially, Nan was relieved to see the second whale maintain its distance, but she knew something was wrong. Both whales \u2013 the aggressor and the bystander \u2013 were behaving rather erratically, and Nan couldn\u2019t figure out for the life of her what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
15. More Oddities<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being in a sticky situation, her researcher side told her to document the second whale\u2019s odd behavior as well. It was slapping its tail on the surface of the water every so often, and it was seemingly slapping at something right behind it. Nan couldn\u2019t figure out why both of these whales were behaving abnormally. One was pushing her farther away from safety while the other was swatting its tail at something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. Injured but OK<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite the severity of the situation, Nan was relatively unharmed, but she knew things might change in the blink of an eye. Since first encountering the whale, Nan had already spent 10 excruciating minutes with her aggressor. Rough barnacles on the whale\u2019s skin would rip her suit and skin whenever they made contact. Whatever was going on, Nan knew that she would not leave without a few more cuts and bruises. Not long after, something clicked in Nan\u2019s mind. She finally understood what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. Stay by His Side<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the last 15 minutes, Nan was in desperation mode and trying to flee her captor any way she could. She might end up receiving a beating in the process, but anything would be better than being stranded in the middle of the ocean. She managed to swim slightly out of the humpback\u2019s trajectory, but it seemed dedicated to ramming into and dragging her with him. Despite her valiant efforts, this humpback was not letting go. But then it came to her \u2013 things suddenly made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. Shark Territory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe second humpback\u2019s erratic behavior was due to being pursued closely by nothing other than a predatory tiger shark, a species of shark that is known to cause harm to humans. Nan even caught a glimpse of the 15-foot predator, and if it caught sight of her as well, she could have up being lunch rather than a punching bag. It dawned on Nan that the humpbacks were attempting to save her! But as we all know, attempting to save and actually being saved are two very different stories. Nan was in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Man-Eating Tiger Sharks<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Being an expert at whales, Nan had a general idea of how much damage a whale can cause to the feeble human body. At the very least, she would escape with a few broken bones, but when you\u2019re dealing with a massive 20-plus ton beast, death is the first thing to come to mind. Nan was worried that her final breaths would be spent with the very creature she dedicated her life to saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
8. Slap of Death<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHer experience with whales told her that as long as she remained pinned to its head, she might be able to leave relatively unscathed. However, the smallest movement on her part might cause her to swing to either of the whale\u2019s sides and, if luck was not on her side, she would experience the greatest slap of her life by either a fin or the whale\u2019s tail. A mighty slap is enough to toss a person several feet into the air and fall into the water unconscious. With the severity of her situation on her mind, she had to formulate an escape plan. Quick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
9. Remain Calm<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s the first thing you would do if you found yourself being dragged farther and farther away from the shore by a 50-ton whale? If it were us, remaining calm would be at the bottom of our list, but Nan, an experienced diver and seasoned marine biologist, knew she had to stay calm. She knew that humpbacks don\u2019t have teeth but rather soft baleen in their mouth for eating krill and small fish. She also knew that her best bet of staying alive was distancing herself from the whale and returning back to her vessel. To do that, she tried to collect her cool \u2013 as long as the whale wasn\u2019t aggravated, perhaps it would grow bored and leave her alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
10. Fearing for Her Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan is well-known for her feat of spiders, a fear that her colleagues usually tease her about. After all, how can you spend your life around humongous beasts while running away from tiny creepy-crawlies? During this frightening encounter, Nan was contemplating a change of phobia. She knew that whales generally leave humans alone, so why was this particular humpback dedicated to dragging her farther and farther away from safety? <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. First-Hand Footage<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite fearing for her life, her science-y side told her to continue documenting the whale\u2019s abnormal behavior. This was her chance to record the behavior of a seemingly hostile whale and how it treats humans. However, she was very well aware that she was quite possibly recording her final moments on Earth. Her colleagues were watching her closely and trying to help, but there\u2019s only so much you can do from a vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Watch and Wait<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan knew that diving alone was not a good idea so a fellow researcher had put on his suit and accompanied her underwater. He, however, was not nearly as experienced as Nan, and as the humpback rammed into her, he had no choice but to follow, watch, and wait. Nobody, not even the person who was physically closest to her, could offer a helping hand. Nan was on her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Not Slowing Down<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMuch to her dismay, this aggressive humpback was not slowing down. It was taking her farther away from her fellow researchers, and eventually, she would be stranded in the middle of the ocean with a nasty whale for company. She was soon almost out of sight of the research vessel, but that wasn\u2019t the worst thing to happen to her. Nan spotted another enormous aquatic creature heading in her direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Double the Trouble<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan spotted another humpback heading her way. Whether the first humpback decided to call for backup or coincidentally run into another humpback is anyone\u2019s guess. Initially, Nan was relieved to see the second whale maintain its distance, but she knew something was wrong. Both whales \u2013 the aggressor and the bystander \u2013 were behaving rather erratically, and Nan couldn\u2019t figure out for the life of her what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
15. More Oddities<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being in a sticky situation, her researcher side told her to document the second whale\u2019s odd behavior as well. It was slapping its tail on the surface of the water every so often, and it was seemingly slapping at something right behind it. Nan couldn\u2019t figure out why both of these whales were behaving abnormally. One was pushing her farther away from safety while the other was swatting its tail at something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. Injured but OK<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite the severity of the situation, Nan was relatively unharmed, but she knew things might change in the blink of an eye. Since first encountering the whale, Nan had already spent 10 excruciating minutes with her aggressor. Rough barnacles on the whale\u2019s skin would rip her suit and skin whenever they made contact. Whatever was going on, Nan knew that she would not leave without a few more cuts and bruises. Not long after, something clicked in Nan\u2019s mind. She finally understood what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. Stay by His Side<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the last 15 minutes, Nan was in desperation mode and trying to flee her captor any way she could. She might end up receiving a beating in the process, but anything would be better than being stranded in the middle of the ocean. She managed to swim slightly out of the humpback\u2019s trajectory, but it seemed dedicated to ramming into and dragging her with him. Despite her valiant efforts, this humpback was not letting go. But then it came to her \u2013 things suddenly made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. Shark Territory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe second humpback\u2019s erratic behavior was due to being pursued closely by nothing other than a predatory tiger shark, a species of shark that is known to cause harm to humans. Nan even caught a glimpse of the 15-foot predator, and if it caught sight of her as well, she could have up being lunch rather than a punching bag. It dawned on Nan that the humpbacks were attempting to save her! But as we all know, attempting to save and actually being saved are two very different stories. Nan was in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Man-Eating Tiger Sharks<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Her experience with whales told her that as long as she remained pinned to its head, she might be able to leave relatively unscathed. However, the smallest movement on her part might cause her to swing to either of the whale\u2019s sides and, if luck was not on her side, she would experience the greatest slap of her life by either a fin or the whale\u2019s tail. A mighty slap is enough to toss a person several feet into the air and fall into the water unconscious. With the severity of her situation on her mind, she had to formulate an escape plan. Quick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
9. Remain Calm<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s the first thing you would do if you found yourself being dragged farther and farther away from the shore by a 50-ton whale? If it were us, remaining calm would be at the bottom of our list, but Nan, an experienced diver and seasoned marine biologist, knew she had to stay calm. She knew that humpbacks don\u2019t have teeth but rather soft baleen in their mouth for eating krill and small fish. She also knew that her best bet of staying alive was distancing herself from the whale and returning back to her vessel. To do that, she tried to collect her cool \u2013 as long as the whale wasn\u2019t aggravated, perhaps it would grow bored and leave her alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
10. Fearing for Her Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan is well-known for her feat of spiders, a fear that her colleagues usually tease her about. After all, how can you spend your life around humongous beasts while running away from tiny creepy-crawlies? During this frightening encounter, Nan was contemplating a change of phobia. She knew that whales generally leave humans alone, so why was this particular humpback dedicated to dragging her farther and farther away from safety? <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. First-Hand Footage<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite fearing for her life, her science-y side told her to continue documenting the whale\u2019s abnormal behavior. This was her chance to record the behavior of a seemingly hostile whale and how it treats humans. However, she was very well aware that she was quite possibly recording her final moments on Earth. Her colleagues were watching her closely and trying to help, but there\u2019s only so much you can do from a vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Watch and Wait<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan knew that diving alone was not a good idea so a fellow researcher had put on his suit and accompanied her underwater. He, however, was not nearly as experienced as Nan, and as the humpback rammed into her, he had no choice but to follow, watch, and wait. Nobody, not even the person who was physically closest to her, could offer a helping hand. Nan was on her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Not Slowing Down<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMuch to her dismay, this aggressive humpback was not slowing down. It was taking her farther away from her fellow researchers, and eventually, she would be stranded in the middle of the ocean with a nasty whale for company. She was soon almost out of sight of the research vessel, but that wasn\u2019t the worst thing to happen to her. Nan spotted another enormous aquatic creature heading in her direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Double the Trouble<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan spotted another humpback heading her way. Whether the first humpback decided to call for backup or coincidentally run into another humpback is anyone\u2019s guess. Initially, Nan was relieved to see the second whale maintain its distance, but she knew something was wrong. Both whales \u2013 the aggressor and the bystander \u2013 were behaving rather erratically, and Nan couldn\u2019t figure out for the life of her what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
15. More Oddities<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being in a sticky situation, her researcher side told her to document the second whale\u2019s odd behavior as well. It was slapping its tail on the surface of the water every so often, and it was seemingly slapping at something right behind it. Nan couldn\u2019t figure out why both of these whales were behaving abnormally. One was pushing her farther away from safety while the other was swatting its tail at something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. Injured but OK<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite the severity of the situation, Nan was relatively unharmed, but she knew things might change in the blink of an eye. Since first encountering the whale, Nan had already spent 10 excruciating minutes with her aggressor. Rough barnacles on the whale\u2019s skin would rip her suit and skin whenever they made contact. Whatever was going on, Nan knew that she would not leave without a few more cuts and bruises. Not long after, something clicked in Nan\u2019s mind. She finally understood what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. Stay by His Side<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the last 15 minutes, Nan was in desperation mode and trying to flee her captor any way she could. She might end up receiving a beating in the process, but anything would be better than being stranded in the middle of the ocean. She managed to swim slightly out of the humpback\u2019s trajectory, but it seemed dedicated to ramming into and dragging her with him. Despite her valiant efforts, this humpback was not letting go. But then it came to her \u2013 things suddenly made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. Shark Territory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe second humpback\u2019s erratic behavior was due to being pursued closely by nothing other than a predatory tiger shark, a species of shark that is known to cause harm to humans. Nan even caught a glimpse of the 15-foot predator, and if it caught sight of her as well, she could have up being lunch rather than a punching bag. It dawned on Nan that the humpbacks were attempting to save her! But as we all know, attempting to save and actually being saved are two very different stories. Nan was in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Man-Eating Tiger Sharks<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
What\u2019s the first thing you would do if you found yourself being dragged farther and farther away from the shore by a 50-ton whale? If it were us, remaining calm would be at the bottom of our list, but Nan, an experienced diver and seasoned marine biologist, knew she had to stay calm. She knew that humpbacks don\u2019t have teeth but rather soft baleen in their mouth for eating krill and small fish. She also knew that her best bet of staying alive was distancing herself from the whale and returning back to her vessel. To do that, she tried to collect her cool \u2013 as long as the whale wasn\u2019t aggravated, perhaps it would grow bored and leave her alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
10. Fearing for Her Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan is well-known for her feat of spiders, a fear that her colleagues usually tease her about. After all, how can you spend your life around humongous beasts while running away from tiny creepy-crawlies? During this frightening encounter, Nan was contemplating a change of phobia. She knew that whales generally leave humans alone, so why was this particular humpback dedicated to dragging her farther and farther away from safety? <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. First-Hand Footage<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite fearing for her life, her science-y side told her to continue documenting the whale\u2019s abnormal behavior. This was her chance to record the behavior of a seemingly hostile whale and how it treats humans. However, she was very well aware that she was quite possibly recording her final moments on Earth. Her colleagues were watching her closely and trying to help, but there\u2019s only so much you can do from a vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Watch and Wait<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan knew that diving alone was not a good idea so a fellow researcher had put on his suit and accompanied her underwater. He, however, was not nearly as experienced as Nan, and as the humpback rammed into her, he had no choice but to follow, watch, and wait. Nobody, not even the person who was physically closest to her, could offer a helping hand. Nan was on her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Not Slowing Down<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMuch to her dismay, this aggressive humpback was not slowing down. It was taking her farther away from her fellow researchers, and eventually, she would be stranded in the middle of the ocean with a nasty whale for company. She was soon almost out of sight of the research vessel, but that wasn\u2019t the worst thing to happen to her. Nan spotted another enormous aquatic creature heading in her direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Double the Trouble<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan spotted another humpback heading her way. Whether the first humpback decided to call for backup or coincidentally run into another humpback is anyone\u2019s guess. Initially, Nan was relieved to see the second whale maintain its distance, but she knew something was wrong. Both whales \u2013 the aggressor and the bystander \u2013 were behaving rather erratically, and Nan couldn\u2019t figure out for the life of her what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
15. More Oddities<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being in a sticky situation, her researcher side told her to document the second whale\u2019s odd behavior as well. It was slapping its tail on the surface of the water every so often, and it was seemingly slapping at something right behind it. Nan couldn\u2019t figure out why both of these whales were behaving abnormally. One was pushing her farther away from safety while the other was swatting its tail at something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. Injured but OK<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite the severity of the situation, Nan was relatively unharmed, but she knew things might change in the blink of an eye. Since first encountering the whale, Nan had already spent 10 excruciating minutes with her aggressor. Rough barnacles on the whale\u2019s skin would rip her suit and skin whenever they made contact. Whatever was going on, Nan knew that she would not leave without a few more cuts and bruises. Not long after, something clicked in Nan\u2019s mind. She finally understood what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. Stay by His Side<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the last 15 minutes, Nan was in desperation mode and trying to flee her captor any way she could. She might end up receiving a beating in the process, but anything would be better than being stranded in the middle of the ocean. She managed to swim slightly out of the humpback\u2019s trajectory, but it seemed dedicated to ramming into and dragging her with him. Despite her valiant efforts, this humpback was not letting go. But then it came to her \u2013 things suddenly made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. Shark Territory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe second humpback\u2019s erratic behavior was due to being pursued closely by nothing other than a predatory tiger shark, a species of shark that is known to cause harm to humans. Nan even caught a glimpse of the 15-foot predator, and if it caught sight of her as well, she could have up being lunch rather than a punching bag. It dawned on Nan that the humpbacks were attempting to save her! But as we all know, attempting to save and actually being saved are two very different stories. Nan was in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Man-Eating Tiger Sharks<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Nan is well-known for her feat of spiders, a fear that her colleagues usually tease her about. After all, how can you spend your life around humongous beasts while running away from tiny creepy-crawlies? During this frightening encounter, Nan was contemplating a change of phobia. She knew that whales generally leave humans alone, so why was this particular humpback dedicated to dragging her farther and farther away from safety? <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. First-Hand Footage<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite fearing for her life, her science-y side told her to continue documenting the whale\u2019s abnormal behavior. This was her chance to record the behavior of a seemingly hostile whale and how it treats humans. However, she was very well aware that she was quite possibly recording her final moments on Earth. Her colleagues were watching her closely and trying to help, but there\u2019s only so much you can do from a vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Watch and Wait<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan knew that diving alone was not a good idea so a fellow researcher had put on his suit and accompanied her underwater. He, however, was not nearly as experienced as Nan, and as the humpback rammed into her, he had no choice but to follow, watch, and wait. Nobody, not even the person who was physically closest to her, could offer a helping hand. Nan was on her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Not Slowing Down<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMuch to her dismay, this aggressive humpback was not slowing down. It was taking her farther away from her fellow researchers, and eventually, she would be stranded in the middle of the ocean with a nasty whale for company. She was soon almost out of sight of the research vessel, but that wasn\u2019t the worst thing to happen to her. Nan spotted another enormous aquatic creature heading in her direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Double the Trouble<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan spotted another humpback heading her way. Whether the first humpback decided to call for backup or coincidentally run into another humpback is anyone\u2019s guess. Initially, Nan was relieved to see the second whale maintain its distance, but she knew something was wrong. Both whales \u2013 the aggressor and the bystander \u2013 were behaving rather erratically, and Nan couldn\u2019t figure out for the life of her what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
15. More Oddities<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being in a sticky situation, her researcher side told her to document the second whale\u2019s odd behavior as well. It was slapping its tail on the surface of the water every so often, and it was seemingly slapping at something right behind it. Nan couldn\u2019t figure out why both of these whales were behaving abnormally. One was pushing her farther away from safety while the other was swatting its tail at something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. Injured but OK<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite the severity of the situation, Nan was relatively unharmed, but she knew things might change in the blink of an eye. Since first encountering the whale, Nan had already spent 10 excruciating minutes with her aggressor. Rough barnacles on the whale\u2019s skin would rip her suit and skin whenever they made contact. Whatever was going on, Nan knew that she would not leave without a few more cuts and bruises. Not long after, something clicked in Nan\u2019s mind. She finally understood what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. Stay by His Side<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the last 15 minutes, Nan was in desperation mode and trying to flee her captor any way she could. She might end up receiving a beating in the process, but anything would be better than being stranded in the middle of the ocean. She managed to swim slightly out of the humpback\u2019s trajectory, but it seemed dedicated to ramming into and dragging her with him. Despite her valiant efforts, this humpback was not letting go. But then it came to her \u2013 things suddenly made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. Shark Territory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe second humpback\u2019s erratic behavior was due to being pursued closely by nothing other than a predatory tiger shark, a species of shark that is known to cause harm to humans. Nan even caught a glimpse of the 15-foot predator, and if it caught sight of her as well, she could have up being lunch rather than a punching bag. It dawned on Nan that the humpbacks were attempting to save her! But as we all know, attempting to save and actually being saved are two very different stories. Nan was in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Man-Eating Tiger Sharks<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Despite fearing for her life, her science-y side told her to continue documenting the whale\u2019s abnormal behavior. This was her chance to record the behavior of a seemingly hostile whale and how it treats humans. However, she was very well aware that she was quite possibly recording her final moments on Earth. Her colleagues were watching her closely and trying to help, but there\u2019s only so much you can do from a vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Watch and Wait<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan knew that diving alone was not a good idea so a fellow researcher had put on his suit and accompanied her underwater. He, however, was not nearly as experienced as Nan, and as the humpback rammed into her, he had no choice but to follow, watch, and wait. Nobody, not even the person who was physically closest to her, could offer a helping hand. Nan was on her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Not Slowing Down<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMuch to her dismay, this aggressive humpback was not slowing down. It was taking her farther away from her fellow researchers, and eventually, she would be stranded in the middle of the ocean with a nasty whale for company. She was soon almost out of sight of the research vessel, but that wasn\u2019t the worst thing to happen to her. Nan spotted another enormous aquatic creature heading in her direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Double the Trouble<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan spotted another humpback heading her way. Whether the first humpback decided to call for backup or coincidentally run into another humpback is anyone\u2019s guess. Initially, Nan was relieved to see the second whale maintain its distance, but she knew something was wrong. Both whales \u2013 the aggressor and the bystander \u2013 were behaving rather erratically, and Nan couldn\u2019t figure out for the life of her what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
15. More Oddities<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being in a sticky situation, her researcher side told her to document the second whale\u2019s odd behavior as well. It was slapping its tail on the surface of the water every so often, and it was seemingly slapping at something right behind it. Nan couldn\u2019t figure out why both of these whales were behaving abnormally. One was pushing her farther away from safety while the other was swatting its tail at something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. Injured but OK<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite the severity of the situation, Nan was relatively unharmed, but she knew things might change in the blink of an eye. Since first encountering the whale, Nan had already spent 10 excruciating minutes with her aggressor. Rough barnacles on the whale\u2019s skin would rip her suit and skin whenever they made contact. Whatever was going on, Nan knew that she would not leave without a few more cuts and bruises. Not long after, something clicked in Nan\u2019s mind. She finally understood what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. Stay by His Side<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the last 15 minutes, Nan was in desperation mode and trying to flee her captor any way she could. She might end up receiving a beating in the process, but anything would be better than being stranded in the middle of the ocean. She managed to swim slightly out of the humpback\u2019s trajectory, but it seemed dedicated to ramming into and dragging her with him. Despite her valiant efforts, this humpback was not letting go. But then it came to her \u2013 things suddenly made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. Shark Territory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe second humpback\u2019s erratic behavior was due to being pursued closely by nothing other than a predatory tiger shark, a species of shark that is known to cause harm to humans. Nan even caught a glimpse of the 15-foot predator, and if it caught sight of her as well, she could have up being lunch rather than a punching bag. It dawned on Nan that the humpbacks were attempting to save her! But as we all know, attempting to save and actually being saved are two very different stories. Nan was in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Man-Eating Tiger Sharks<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Nan knew that diving alone was not a good idea so a fellow researcher had put on his suit and accompanied her underwater. He, however, was not nearly as experienced as Nan, and as the humpback rammed into her, he had no choice but to follow, watch, and wait. Nobody, not even the person who was physically closest to her, could offer a helping hand. Nan was on her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Not Slowing Down<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMuch to her dismay, this aggressive humpback was not slowing down. It was taking her farther away from her fellow researchers, and eventually, she would be stranded in the middle of the ocean with a nasty whale for company. She was soon almost out of sight of the research vessel, but that wasn\u2019t the worst thing to happen to her. Nan spotted another enormous aquatic creature heading in her direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Double the Trouble<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan spotted another humpback heading her way. Whether the first humpback decided to call for backup or coincidentally run into another humpback is anyone\u2019s guess. Initially, Nan was relieved to see the second whale maintain its distance, but she knew something was wrong. Both whales \u2013 the aggressor and the bystander \u2013 were behaving rather erratically, and Nan couldn\u2019t figure out for the life of her what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
15. More Oddities<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being in a sticky situation, her researcher side told her to document the second whale\u2019s odd behavior as well. It was slapping its tail on the surface of the water every so often, and it was seemingly slapping at something right behind it. Nan couldn\u2019t figure out why both of these whales were behaving abnormally. One was pushing her farther away from safety while the other was swatting its tail at something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. Injured but OK<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite the severity of the situation, Nan was relatively unharmed, but she knew things might change in the blink of an eye. Since first encountering the whale, Nan had already spent 10 excruciating minutes with her aggressor. Rough barnacles on the whale\u2019s skin would rip her suit and skin whenever they made contact. Whatever was going on, Nan knew that she would not leave without a few more cuts and bruises. Not long after, something clicked in Nan\u2019s mind. She finally understood what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. Stay by His Side<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the last 15 minutes, Nan was in desperation mode and trying to flee her captor any way she could. She might end up receiving a beating in the process, but anything would be better than being stranded in the middle of the ocean. She managed to swim slightly out of the humpback\u2019s trajectory, but it seemed dedicated to ramming into and dragging her with him. Despite her valiant efforts, this humpback was not letting go. But then it came to her \u2013 things suddenly made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. Shark Territory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe second humpback\u2019s erratic behavior was due to being pursued closely by nothing other than a predatory tiger shark, a species of shark that is known to cause harm to humans. Nan even caught a glimpse of the 15-foot predator, and if it caught sight of her as well, she could have up being lunch rather than a punching bag. It dawned on Nan that the humpbacks were attempting to save her! But as we all know, attempting to save and actually being saved are two very different stories. Nan was in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Man-Eating Tiger Sharks<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Much to her dismay, this aggressive humpback was not slowing down. It was taking her farther away from her fellow researchers, and eventually, she would be stranded in the middle of the ocean with a nasty whale for company. She was soon almost out of sight of the research vessel, but that wasn\u2019t the worst thing to happen to her. Nan spotted another enormous aquatic creature heading in her direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Double the Trouble<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan spotted another humpback heading her way. Whether the first humpback decided to call for backup or coincidentally run into another humpback is anyone\u2019s guess. Initially, Nan was relieved to see the second whale maintain its distance, but she knew something was wrong. Both whales \u2013 the aggressor and the bystander \u2013 were behaving rather erratically, and Nan couldn\u2019t figure out for the life of her what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
15. More Oddities<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being in a sticky situation, her researcher side told her to document the second whale\u2019s odd behavior as well. It was slapping its tail on the surface of the water every so often, and it was seemingly slapping at something right behind it. Nan couldn\u2019t figure out why both of these whales were behaving abnormally. One was pushing her farther away from safety while the other was swatting its tail at something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. Injured but OK<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite the severity of the situation, Nan was relatively unharmed, but she knew things might change in the blink of an eye. Since first encountering the whale, Nan had already spent 10 excruciating minutes with her aggressor. Rough barnacles on the whale\u2019s skin would rip her suit and skin whenever they made contact. Whatever was going on, Nan knew that she would not leave without a few more cuts and bruises. Not long after, something clicked in Nan\u2019s mind. She finally understood what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. Stay by His Side<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the last 15 minutes, Nan was in desperation mode and trying to flee her captor any way she could. She might end up receiving a beating in the process, but anything would be better than being stranded in the middle of the ocean. She managed to swim slightly out of the humpback\u2019s trajectory, but it seemed dedicated to ramming into and dragging her with him. Despite her valiant efforts, this humpback was not letting go. But then it came to her \u2013 things suddenly made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. Shark Territory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe second humpback\u2019s erratic behavior was due to being pursued closely by nothing other than a predatory tiger shark, a species of shark that is known to cause harm to humans. Nan even caught a glimpse of the 15-foot predator, and if it caught sight of her as well, she could have up being lunch rather than a punching bag. It dawned on Nan that the humpbacks were attempting to save her! But as we all know, attempting to save and actually being saved are two very different stories. Nan was in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Man-Eating Tiger Sharks<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Nan spotted another humpback heading her way. Whether the first humpback decided to call for backup or coincidentally run into another humpback is anyone\u2019s guess. Initially, Nan was relieved to see the second whale maintain its distance, but she knew something was wrong. Both whales \u2013 the aggressor and the bystander \u2013 were behaving rather erratically, and Nan couldn\u2019t figure out for the life of her what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
15. More Oddities<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being in a sticky situation, her researcher side told her to document the second whale\u2019s odd behavior as well. It was slapping its tail on the surface of the water every so often, and it was seemingly slapping at something right behind it. Nan couldn\u2019t figure out why both of these whales were behaving abnormally. One was pushing her farther away from safety while the other was swatting its tail at something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. Injured but OK<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite the severity of the situation, Nan was relatively unharmed, but she knew things might change in the blink of an eye. Since first encountering the whale, Nan had already spent 10 excruciating minutes with her aggressor. Rough barnacles on the whale\u2019s skin would rip her suit and skin whenever they made contact. Whatever was going on, Nan knew that she would not leave without a few more cuts and bruises. Not long after, something clicked in Nan\u2019s mind. She finally understood what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. Stay by His Side<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the last 15 minutes, Nan was in desperation mode and trying to flee her captor any way she could. She might end up receiving a beating in the process, but anything would be better than being stranded in the middle of the ocean. She managed to swim slightly out of the humpback\u2019s trajectory, but it seemed dedicated to ramming into and dragging her with him. Despite her valiant efforts, this humpback was not letting go. But then it came to her \u2013 things suddenly made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. Shark Territory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe second humpback\u2019s erratic behavior was due to being pursued closely by nothing other than a predatory tiger shark, a species of shark that is known to cause harm to humans. Nan even caught a glimpse of the 15-foot predator, and if it caught sight of her as well, she could have up being lunch rather than a punching bag. It dawned on Nan that the humpbacks were attempting to save her! But as we all know, attempting to save and actually being saved are two very different stories. Nan was in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Man-Eating Tiger Sharks<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Despite being in a sticky situation, her researcher side told her to document the second whale\u2019s odd behavior as well. It was slapping its tail on the surface of the water every so often, and it was seemingly slapping at something right behind it. Nan couldn\u2019t figure out why both of these whales were behaving abnormally. One was pushing her farther away from safety while the other was swatting its tail at something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. Injured but OK<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite the severity of the situation, Nan was relatively unharmed, but she knew things might change in the blink of an eye. Since first encountering the whale, Nan had already spent 10 excruciating minutes with her aggressor. Rough barnacles on the whale\u2019s skin would rip her suit and skin whenever they made contact. Whatever was going on, Nan knew that she would not leave without a few more cuts and bruises. Not long after, something clicked in Nan\u2019s mind. She finally understood what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. Stay by His Side<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the last 15 minutes, Nan was in desperation mode and trying to flee her captor any way she could. She might end up receiving a beating in the process, but anything would be better than being stranded in the middle of the ocean. She managed to swim slightly out of the humpback\u2019s trajectory, but it seemed dedicated to ramming into and dragging her with him. Despite her valiant efforts, this humpback was not letting go. But then it came to her \u2013 things suddenly made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. Shark Territory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe second humpback\u2019s erratic behavior was due to being pursued closely by nothing other than a predatory tiger shark, a species of shark that is known to cause harm to humans. Nan even caught a glimpse of the 15-foot predator, and if it caught sight of her as well, she could have up being lunch rather than a punching bag. It dawned on Nan that the humpbacks were attempting to save her! But as we all know, attempting to save and actually being saved are two very different stories. Nan was in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Man-Eating Tiger Sharks<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Despite the severity of the situation, Nan was relatively unharmed, but she knew things might change in the blink of an eye. Since first encountering the whale, Nan had already spent 10 excruciating minutes with her aggressor. Rough barnacles on the whale\u2019s skin would rip her suit and skin whenever they made contact. Whatever was going on, Nan knew that she would not leave without a few more cuts and bruises. Not long after, something clicked in Nan\u2019s mind. She finally understood what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. Stay by His Side<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the last 15 minutes, Nan was in desperation mode and trying to flee her captor any way she could. She might end up receiving a beating in the process, but anything would be better than being stranded in the middle of the ocean. She managed to swim slightly out of the humpback\u2019s trajectory, but it seemed dedicated to ramming into and dragging her with him. Despite her valiant efforts, this humpback was not letting go. But then it came to her \u2013 things suddenly made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. Shark Territory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe second humpback\u2019s erratic behavior was due to being pursued closely by nothing other than a predatory tiger shark, a species of shark that is known to cause harm to humans. Nan even caught a glimpse of the 15-foot predator, and if it caught sight of her as well, she could have up being lunch rather than a punching bag. It dawned on Nan that the humpbacks were attempting to save her! But as we all know, attempting to save and actually being saved are two very different stories. Nan was in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Man-Eating Tiger Sharks<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
For the last 15 minutes, Nan was in desperation mode and trying to flee her captor any way she could. She might end up receiving a beating in the process, but anything would be better than being stranded in the middle of the ocean. She managed to swim slightly out of the humpback\u2019s trajectory, but it seemed dedicated to ramming into and dragging her with him. Despite her valiant efforts, this humpback was not letting go. But then it came to her \u2013 things suddenly made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. Shark Territory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe second humpback\u2019s erratic behavior was due to being pursued closely by nothing other than a predatory tiger shark, a species of shark that is known to cause harm to humans. Nan even caught a glimpse of the 15-foot predator, and if it caught sight of her as well, she could have up being lunch rather than a punching bag. It dawned on Nan that the humpbacks were attempting to save her! But as we all know, attempting to save and actually being saved are two very different stories. Nan was in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Man-Eating Tiger Sharks<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
The second humpback\u2019s erratic behavior was due to being pursued closely by nothing other than a predatory tiger shark, a species of shark that is known to cause harm to humans. Nan even caught a glimpse of the 15-foot predator, and if it caught sight of her as well, she could have up being lunch rather than a punching bag. It dawned on Nan that the humpbacks were attempting to save her! But as we all know, attempting to save and actually being saved are two very different stories. Nan was in grave danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Man-Eating Tiger Sharks<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Most people think of great whites when they imagine man-eating sharks, but that is not the case in many attack instances. Though they are stronger and larger than tiger sharks, an experienced diver like Nan could at least manage to deal with one. Tiger sharks are an entirely different species that are committed to causing as much harm as possible. Not long after first seeing it, she somehow found herself and her diving buddy within range of the shark. With all of her strength, she managed to push past the humpback and make a beeline for the pursuing research vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Safe at Last!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Thankfully, both Nan and her diving buddy were able to swim away from both the humpbacks and the tiger shark. They were pulled aboard and were safe at last. Nan was frantically trying to catch her breath to explain what had just happened to her fellow researchers. Despite being out of danger\u2019s way, her heart was beating a million times a minute. She let her colleagues know that the whales were keeping her safe from the tiger shark. Some have called this experience a unique case of interspecies compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Are You OK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Nan headed straight for the ship\u2019s railing to see the ensuing battle going on a few feet beneath the surface of the water. She was astounded to see the first humpback waiting around as if to ensure Nan was safe before returning to sea. Before submerging, the male humpback released a sudden burst of water from its blowhole before becoming lost in the infinite waves. Once again, Nan\u2019s science-y side dictated that she document her experience while it was still fresh in her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Nan\u2019s Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
After reviewing the footage from both her and her diving buddy\u2019s underwater cameras, as well as footage caught by their drone, Nan was convinced that she knew why the two humpbacks were acting strangely. She hypothesized that the whales remained close by to ensure her safety from impending doom. From her deep understanding of whales in general, her theory made complete sense, even though this was the first real experience of whales behaving this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Underwater Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHumpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Humpback whales remain one of the most mysterious creatures to date despite being documented fairly well by researchers. Her personal experience with her underwater hero did not match anything in her piles of information on the species. After over 100 documented cases of encounters with humpbacks spanning more than six decades, humpbacks would usually go out of their way to save dolphins, seals, or other humpbacks, but never humans. Nan\u2019s case was one of a kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMarine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Marine ecologist Robert Pitmas is an eyewitness of the humpbacks\u2019 caring nature. He saw a humpback fling a seal out of the water in order to save it from a pod of orcas. But nobody had ever heard of humpbacks helping out humans before. Best of all, her encounter was recorded from multiple perspectives! However, although Nan\u2019s theory does hold some weight, the scientific community wasn\u2019t completely on board with her radical idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. Making Waves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
As Nan\u2019s theory began to gain traction, the scientific community was somewhat apprehensive to take her side. After all, there\u2019s really no way to understand the true intent of a whale. Perhaps it was saving her, or perhaps it had other reasons for keeping her close by. But no matter what anybody said, Nan was steadfast in her belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. A Video Is Worth a Million Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
One thing is for certain: being documented from multiple perspectives had increased her credibility. She wasn\u2019t just creating theories out of thin air, but she had first-hand experience of being saved by humpbacks. To her, seeing the footage should have been more than enough to convince any nay-sayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Altruism<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
On one of the belief spectrum, many members of the scientific community were willing to disregard her evidence completely. On the other end, many attempted to call humpbacks \u201ccompassionate\u201d or \u201cempathetic\u201d in nature. Both of these ideas irritated Nan as, in her own words, the whales were merely altruistic. Altruism is well-documented in numerous animal species. True compassion is a human emotion. This, of course, is up for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Instincts<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Robert Pitmas explained the vast differences between altruism and compassion. When humans protect another species, this is due to their compassionate nature. We as humans are programmed to protect others from danger. Altruism, in the case of Nan and her humpback friend, resulted in the whale protecting Nan possibly due to her size reminding him of his own offspring. This may have been instinctual, but nothing is for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Another Bizarre Encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOnly four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Only four days after her meeting with the aggressor-turned-hero humpback, Nan was back in the water, camera and all. She was ready to document more of this mysterious species if she could find another. As luck would have it, another humpback cautiously approached her; this time a female. Filled with nothing but respect for the gentle giant, Nan watched closely to see what would take place next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. A Hug of the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nan.hauser<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
The female was swimming a mere four feet below her then\nquickly spun around to expose her belly to Nan. Suddenly, it spread her fins\nupward as if to give Nan a massive hug! Coincidentally, this happened right on\nher birthday, and Nan received a gift that she will treasure forever. In a span\nof only five days, Nan had been saved and hugged. Perhaps they were expressing\ntheir gratitude for her establishing a sanctuary where they can swim freely and\nwithout harm from humans. Whatever the case, you gotta admit that her unique\nstory is heartwarming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite being one of the largest species of animals in all of history, not much is known about them. Sure, they\u2019re mainly friendly in nature, but we have so much more to learn about these gentle beasts. One encounter that still baffles many people to this day occurred in the Cook Islands \u2013 a seasoned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":9226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97330,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9126\/revisions\/97330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}