Watch: Mother Whale Protects Her Calf

A mother whale known as Spirit has kept her baby safe from some male humpbacks by pushing him on top of her and lifting him out of the water.

Sunny and Spirit had been chased by some eager males for 30 minutes when they reached a whale watching boat in Flinders Bay near Augusta and used the vessel as a barrier.

Spirit also swam under Sunny and lifted him away from the circling males, to make sure he wasn't crushed.

A pod of local dolphins also stepped in to help herd the unwelcome whales away.

One of the males turned on a smaller one, and escorted Spirit and Sunny away.

Take a look: