Researchers were both surprised and thrilled to find a baby right whale, previously unrecorded, swimming alongside its mother near the shores of Quebec.
The 6,804-kilogram North Atlantic right whale calf had successfully avoided detection by scientists who meticulously monitor the populations of endangered species.
This discovery was made when the calf was photographed in September near Anticosti Island.
“Honestly, I was somewhat doubtful at first,” stated Amy Warren, a scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center of the New England Aquarium, during an interview with As It Happens host Nil Kӧksal.
Warren and her team took great care to verify the finding by identifying the mother and matching the calf’s unique markings with those cataloged from other whales.
This unexpected sighting raises the count of baby right whales from the latest birthing season to 24—marking the most fruitful year for the species since 2009 and the fourth-highest total ever recorded, according to the aquarium.
“This year certainly brings a wave of hope and optimism,” Warren remarked.
Warren notes that those involved in the study of North Atlantic right whales often struggle to find reasons for optimism.
Currently, there are merely 380 individuals remaining globally, as reported by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with a 25 percent decline in their population observed between 2010 and 2020. Only around 70 females of reproductive age are alive today.
This decline is partly attributed to rising ocean temperatures, which are pushing these whales away from protected zones into regions that are highly dangerous due to ship collisions and entanglement in fishing gear.
“It can be very challenging to witness these whales endure such traumatic experiences. We document their scars and injuries, dedicating considerable time to discussing and examining them,” Warren explained.
“Thus, to consider the presence of these calves and to see so many of them is incredibly uplifting.”
Trend or anomaly?
Things may be improving. According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, North Atlantic right whales have started to recover some of their numbers since 2020, and the recent surge in calves has led scientists to feel cautiously hopeful.
However, Warren cautions that it is premature to determine if this is indicative of a broader positive trend or merely an isolated incident.
“Perhaps they have discovered better feeding grounds; that’s a distinct possibility,” she suggested.
“We hope that the protective measures being implemented by researchers and management are yielding positive results. However, it is challenging to assert that with full confidence.”
Videographers Heather MacAulay and Chris Murphy captured a remarkable moment on September 1 when they observed a North Atlantic right whale off Blackhead Cove, N.L. Although critically endangered, there are encouraging signs that the population may be stabilizing.
The newly discovered calf is the offspring of a female called Silt, who researchers believe is at least 38 years old. This marks her sixth birth.
“She is certainly an experienced mother,” Warren remarked. “Her last calf was born in 2022, so it aligns well for her to have another this year.”
Right whales technically can give birth every three years; however, Warren notes that in reality, they often wait between five to ten years.
Yet, she indicates that this interval appears to be decreasing.
“This year, we observed that the average time between births for females was closer to five years, whereas ten years ago, it averaged about ten years.”
How did this calf stay hidden?
These elusive marine mammals typically give birth in the southeastern U.S. during the winter before migrating north to feed in New England and Canada. Researchers monitor their population closely, taking extensive photographs and cataloging them based on their unique head patterns.
Warren states that the calves are hard to overlook. They are still mastering swimming and have limited breath-holding abilities.
“Mothers and calves often remain near the surface, making them easier to spot,” Warren explained.
“Therefore, the fact that this mother-calf duo managed to travel likely from that region all the way to Canada and almost back without being detected by any surveys along the way is quite remarkable and rare.”
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The pair was observed by researchers from the Mingan Island Cetacean Study, a non-profit organization based in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec.
“This illustrates just how vast the ocean is and how easily these animals can get lost,” commented Richard Sears, the founder and director of Mingan Island Cetacean Study.
Warren, for her part, expresses hope that this indicates a more promising future for North Atlantic right whales.
“That is the hope,” she said. “But we will know more in the years ahead.”
