(Fredericton) A scientist who studies the endangered North Atlantic right whale is optimistic about the current breeding season. Nine calves were spotted in its first few weeks. However, she remains cautious.
Moira Brown, senior scientist at the Canadian Whale Institute, says fewer than 100 of the 340 animals still alive in waters along Canada’s east coast are mothers and describes the new baby whales as a sign of hope for the future.
The North Atlantic right whale calving season begins in mid-November and ends in mid-April.
Last year there were only 15 calves, well below the average of 24 reported in the early 2000s. There were also no first-time mothers, which supports the research showing a downward trend in the number of females able to reproduce, says Mme Brown.
The interval between one birth and another is usually three to five years, but more recently, scientists have seen this window stretch to between seven and ten years, she says.
North Atlantic right whales face several challenges that can put them at risk, including collisions with ships, entanglements and lack of food due to warming waters, which could affect reproduction.