A pod of dolphins have led a humpback whale and her calf back to their migration route in an extraordinary moment captured on camera.

The heartwarming interaction between the two species occurred near Bunbury Back Beach in Western Australia on October 18.

The Dolphin Discovery Centre Bunbury used a drone to record the rare encounter.

It shows a humpback whale, initially mistaken for an orca due to her dramatic black and white markings, with her calf swimming in the ocean alone.

The pair had diverted from their migratory path but a pod of dolphins arrived and led them back towards the route.

The mother and calf are seen closely following the group of dolphins in the ocean.

At one point the group make a turn to the left, with the mother humpback and calf breaching behind the pod.

The Dolphin Discovery Centre confirmed the two humpback whales were heading back towards their migration route as they left the group.

Whales can often be found along WA’s coastline at this time of year as they migrate south towards their feeding grounds in Antarctica.

The centre became aware of the lost whales after multiple beachgoers reported seeing an albino whale or a possible orca in the ocean.

Parks and Wildlife Service WA (DBCA) also received calls of a whale in distress in the same location.

‘Luckily, our research and conservation vessel was just hitting the water and responded to investigate,’ the Dolphin Discovery Centre said in a statement.

‘It took some time to find the mystic animal since it moved into 14metre deep water further offshore and could only be seen when it came up to breathe.

‘Our team observed the animals and used a drone to ensure none of them is entangled or injured.’

The team found that both animals were ‘fit and healthy’.

‘For some reason, they came very close to the Bunbury coast before being guided back towards their migration route by a large group of Bunbury Back Beach Dolphins,’ they added.