A photo purportedly showing a detailed, close-up view of a whale's eye has captured social media users' attention.
One Reddit user, whose post had received more than 32,000 upvotes as of this writing, shared the image alongside the caption: "French photographer Rachel Moore captures a breathtaking close-up shot of a whale's eye."
Other examples of the photo appeared online in October, gaining popularity on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Reddit.
In short, the picture is authentic and was captured by self-described ocean advocate and photographer Rachel Moore, who confirmed that she captured the image near Tahiti on Oct. 6, 2024.
Dubbed "Sweet Girl," the humpback whale was estimated to be between three and four years old before she was struck and killed by a "fast-moving ship" two days after their encounter, according to Moore.
Moore served as a judge in the 2024 Ocean Conservancy's annual photo contest and was a finalist in the 2023 United Nations World Oceans photo competition. She was also appointed a 2022 ambassador for the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). Her underwater photography has been featured in publications like Forbes and The Atlantic.
The marine photographer originally shared the image on Instagram on Oct. 8, 2024, and on her website.
A description of the photo noted that the close-up pictures were "cropped in from the original frame." However, Moore did not identify the species of whale in her post, and Snopes reached out to her for more information, including where and when the photo was taken.
The Instagram caption read, in its entirety:
Galaxies in Her Eyes
There's much to be said about this season's encounters and swimming with whales in general. Over the years, I've noticed that many people come wanting to be seen with the whales, rather than truly see them.
Our goal should always be to respect these animals and their space, observing their behavior without disturbing it. Whales are here to rest, mate, give birth, and nourish their young. Chasing after them only drains the energy they need during their 6-8 month fast.
Swimming with these majestic beings is a privilege, and respecting their space is crucial—there's no need to chase after or force interactions. On rare occasions, whales may choose to interact on their own terms.
This moment of eye contact was beyond my wildest dreams. I've never encountered a whale like this one, and it was the most profoundly beautiful experience of my life.
*Both images are cropped in from the original frame.*
? Captured on @sonyalpha A1
Moore pointed Snopes to a highlight section of her Instagram page where she shared images of their interactions over two days in which she called "Sweet Girl" an "incredibly special whale."
"When I finally stopped swimming, she stopped. She wanted to be eye to eye," wrote Moore.