The Whale Hugged Her
The female humpback whale glided about 4 feet under Hauser. Then she spread her pectoral fins and encompassed her like she was hugging the human. This might have been a random gesture, but ironically, it was Hauser’s birthday, and the whale appeared to be congratulating her on her special day. And it filled her with a sense of joy to have these creatures that she has spent 30 years studying treat her as if she were an extended member of their pod.