A Good Start for a Struggling Species: Two Right Whale Newborns Spotted

Less than a week into the North Atlantic right whale calving season, researchers have spotted two newborn calves, signaling a hopeful start for this critically endangered species.

The first calf was observed off Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, just one day after American Thanksgiving, alongside its mother, affectionately named Champagne. Champagne, 17, earned her bubbly moniker from the unique markings on her head that resemble frothy bubbles. This is her second known calf; her first, Wall-E, was born in 2021.

The second mother-calf pair was sighted on December 3, about four nautical miles east of the St. Marys River entrance, along the Florida–Georgia border. The mother, Millipede, is 21 years old and is known for a series of long, superficial propeller scars along her right side, resembling the many legs of a millipede. This is her third calf. Millipede’s first calf was only observed once and likely did not survive, while her second, born in 2021, continues to be seen regularly.

Millipede (right whale catalog No. 3520) and her calf - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, taken under NOAA permit 26919

These early sightings provide a hopeful glimpse into the season ahead for the North Atlantic right whale population, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and conservation efforts.

Original story by Mary Landers - The Current GA - Two newborn right whales spotted off Georgia, North Carolina coast as calving season begins – WABE