"That look was one of the most emotional moments of my life": the photographer captured the whale's eye in a close-up. Incredible shots

Photographer and ocean advocate Rachel Moore has been fortunate enough to spend a lot of time swimming and interacting with whales and dolphins. One day, she swam with a humpback whale she nicknamed Sweet Girl, taking extremely detailed photos of her eye.

The photographer shared the photos on her Instagram page. She also explained how important this day was in her life.

"This moment of eye contact exceeded my wildest dreams. I have never seen a whale like this before, and it was the most wonderful experience of my life. I feel privileged that she allowed me to capture the beauty and life in her eyes," Moore wrote.

The photos were taken off the island of Moorea in French Polynesia. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are a species that stop off these islands to rest and give birth before their long journey to Antarctica.

Sadly, just four days after Moore captured this incredible footage, Sweet Girl was killed in a collision with a fast-moving boat.

An investigation is still ongoing to identify the ship that hit her, and one organization is considering pressing charges. In French Polynesia, whales have been granted legal personhood, making this case even more significant.

"I hope that her tragic story will lead to real, meaningful change, especially in terms of speed limits for vessels in these areas where whales are predominantly found during whale season," Moore wrote on her Instagram page.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA reported that scientists had studied whales' hearing for the first time and were shocked by the result. Scientists suggest that these marine creatures can hear at much higher frequencies than expected.

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