Researchers were both surprised and thrilled to find a baby North Atlantic right whale swimming with its mother near Quebec, a discovery that had gone unnoticed until now.
The 6,804-kilogram calf evaded detection by scientists who meticulously monitor the populations of endangered species.
It was not until a photograph of the pair was taken in September near Anticosti Island that their presence was revealed.
“I was somewhat doubtful initially,” stated Amy Warren, a scientist from the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center, during an interview with As It Happens host Nil Kӧksal.
Warren and her team confirmed the sighting by identifying the mother whale and matching the unique markings of the calf against those in their existing records.
This unexpected sighting increases the total number of calves born in the latest birthing season to 24, marking the highest count for the species since 2009 and the fourth highest in recorded history, according to the aquarium.
“This year brings a considerable amount of hope and optimism,” Warren expressed.
Warren noted that scientists studying North Atlantic right whales often struggle to find reasons for optimism.
With only 380 individuals remaining globally, as reported by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the population dropped by 25 percent from 2010 to 2020, with roughly 70 females of reproductive age still alive.
This decline is partly attributed to rising ocean temperatures, which are pushing these whales away from safe habitats and into areas where they face increased risks of collisions with large vessels and entanglement in fishing gear.
“It can be extremely challenging to witness these whales endure traumatic experiences. We document their injuries and scars, spending significant time discussing them,” Warren commented.
“Thus, seeing these calves and observing so many of them is genuinely uplifting.”
Trend or anomaly?
There may be a shift in fortunes. According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, North Atlantic right whales have seen a slight population increase since 2020, and the recent surge in calf births has scientists feeling cautiously optimistic.
However, Warren cautions against concluding whether this is a part of a long-term recovery trend or merely a one-time occurrence.
“Perhaps they have discovered better feeding grounds or food sources. That’s a possibility,” she suggested.
“We aspire to believe that the protection strategies being implemented by researchers and management are effective. But asserting that with certainty is difficult.”
Videographers Heather MacAulay and Chris Murphy captured a remarkable image on September 1 when they spotted a North Atlantic right whale near Blackhead Cove, N.L. These whales are critically endangered, yet positive signs indicate a potential stabilization of their population.
The new calf belongs to a female known as Silt, who is believed to be at least 38 years old. This marks her sixth calf.
“She is a very experienced mother,” Warren noted. “She last gave birth in 2022, so the timing for this year aligns well.”
Right whales can give birth every three years on paper, but in practice, Warren explains that they often wait between five to ten years.
However, she observes that this interval seems to be diminishing.
“This year, we’ve noticed that the average interval for females is around five years, whereas a decade ago, it was about ten years between calves.”
How did this calf stay hidden?
These elusive marine creatures typically give birth in the southeastern U.S. during winter before migrating north to New England and Canada for feeding. Scientists monitor their population closely, taking extensive photographs and cataloging individuals by their unique head markings.
According to Warren, the calves are usually conspicuous. They are still mastering swimming and cannot hold their breath for extended periods.
“Mothers and calves tend to stay near the surface, making them easier to spot,” Warren explained.
“Thus, the fact that this mother-calf duo managed to travel from that region all the way to Canada, nearly back again, without being detected by any surveys along the route is quite remarkable and rare.”
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The pair was spotted by researchers from the Mingan Island Cetacean Study, a non-profit organization based in the coastal Côte-Nord region of the province.
“This illustrates how vast the ocean is and how these animals can get lost within it,” remarked Richard Sears, founder and director of the Mingan Island Cetacean Study.
Warren hopes this finding signifies a promising future for North Atlantic right whales.
“That is the hope,” she stated. “But we will see how things unfold in the coming years.”