Researchers were both surprised and thrilled to find a previously unrecorded baby right whale swimming alongside its mother off the shores of Quebec.
The stealthy North Atlantic right whale calf, weighing in at an impressive 6,804 kilograms, had managed to slip past the vigilant researchers monitoring the population of this endangered species.
This unexpected sighting occurred in September near Anticosti Island.
“Honestly, I was quite skeptical at the beginning,” noted Amy Warren, a scientist from the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center, during her conversation with As It Happens host Nil Kӧksal.
However, Warren and her team meticulously verified the find by identifying the mother and matching the calf’s unique markings with those of previously documented whales.
The discovery raises the total number of right whale calves from the latest birthing season to 24, marking the most successful year for the species since 2009 and the fourth-highest count ever recorded, according to the aquarium.
“This year certainly brings a wave of hope and optimism,” Warren expressed.
Warren mentions that those studying North Atlantic right whales often struggle to find reasons for optimism.
There are only 380 of these whales remaining globally, as per the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and their numbers dropped by 25 percent from 2010 to 2020. Currently, approximately 70 females of reproductive age are known to be alive.
This decline can be partially attributed to rising ocean temperatures, which are driving these whales away from safe habitats and into regions where they are highly susceptible to ship collisions and entanglement in fishing gear.
“It can be truly challenging to witness these whales endure such traumatic experiences. We document their scars and injuries, spending considerable time discussing and analyzing those issues,” Warren remarked.
“So, when we think about these calves and actually see them, and witness so many of them, it’s… genuinely uplifting.”
Trend or anomaly?
There may be a positive shift happening. Since 2020, North Atlantic right whales have started to rebound in numbers, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the surge in calves this year has scientists feeling cautiously optimistic.
However, Warren cautions that it is premature to determine whether this is indicative of a long-term trend or merely a one-time occurrence.
“Perhaps they have discovered more abundant food sources or better feeding locations. That’s certainly a possibility,” she suggested.
“We genuinely hope that some of the protective measures implemented by researchers and management are also yielding positive results. But it’s difficult to assert that with absolute certainty.”
Videographers Heather MacAulay and Chris Murphy captured an incredible moment on Sept. 1 when they spotted a North Atlantic right whale off the coast of Blackhead Cove, N.L. Although critically endangered, there are encouraging signs suggesting the population may be stabilizing.
The latest calf is the offspring of a female known as Silt, who researchers estimate to be at least 38 years old. This marks her sixth calf.
“She is certainly an experienced mother,” Warren commented. “Her previous calf was born in 2022, so it makes sense for her to have one this year.”
While right whales can technically give birth every three years, Warren notes that they typically wait between five and ten years.
However, she observes that this interval appears to be decreasing.
“This year, we noticed that the average gap between calves for females was closer to five years. A decade ago, the average was roughly ten years between births.”
How did this calf stay hidden?
These elusive whales give birth in the southeastern U.S. during the winter months before migrating northward to New England and Canada for feeding. Researchers meticulously monitor their population, capturing photographs and cataloging them based on their unique head patterns.
According to Warren, the calves are difficult to overlook. Still mastering the art of swimming, they cannot hold their breath for extended periods.
“Mothers and calves tend to stay near the surface, which makes them easier to spot,” Warren explained.
“Therefore, the fact that this mother-calf duo managed to traverse from that area all the way to Canada and nearly back without being detected by any surveys along the route is quite remarkable and rare.”
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Researchers from the Mingan Island Cetacean Study, a non-profit organization in Québec’s coastal Côte-Nord region, spotted the pair.
“This highlights just how vast the ocean is and how easily these animals can get lost,” remarked Richard Sears, founder and director of the Mingan Island Cetacean Study.
Warren, for her part, expresses hope that this sighting signifies a positive turn for North Atlantic right whales.
“That is the hope,” she said. “We’ll see how things unfold in the coming years.”