“…This is true for cetacean calves, who have extremely limited locomotor performance (Noren et al 2006), yet at the same time must still maintain proximity to their mothers while she maneuvers within their habitat to forage and avoid predators. From the wild beluga whale Delphinapterus leucas (Krasnova et al 2006) to the Southern right whale Eubaleana australis (Taber & Thomas 1982) and captive and freeranging dolphins (McBride & Kritzler 1951, Tavolga & Essapian 1957, Norris & Prescott 1961, Au & Perryman 1982, Gubbins et al 1999, Mann & Smuts 1999, the predominant spatial states of mother-calf cetacean pairs are echelon position (calf in very close proximity to its mother's mid-lateral flank) and infant position (calf in very close positioning underneath its mother's tailstock; Fig. 1a, b) throughout the critical first year of development.…”