A New Arrival: Fifth North Atlantic Right Whale Calf Spotted Near Sullivan’s Island

In a heartwarming development for marine conservationists, the fifth North Atlantic right whale calf of the season was recently sighted off the coast of Sullivan's Island. This sighting underscores the importance of South Carolina's waters as a critical habitat for these endangered giants and their newborns.

The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network has highlighted South Carolina as a vital sanctuary for North Atlantic right whales, particularly for calving.  With the species hovering on the brink of extinction—just 384 individuals remain, including fewer than 70 breeding females—each new calf offers a rare and meaningful sign of hope.

North Atlantic right whales continue to face numerous threats, including boat strikes, noise disturbances, entanglement in fishing gear, and habitat degradation. Climate change is compounding these challenges by warming ocean waters and shifting the whales’ food sources away from their traditional feeding grounds in the northeastern United States, increasing stress on an already vulnerable population.

Lauren Rust, executive director of the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network, emphasizes the importance of protecting these majestic creatures. "Right whales are precious and critically endangered. They are also essential to the ocean, environment, and ecosystem. It's our responsibility to keep the last ones safe so they don't disappear forever," she stated.

The South Carolina Aquarium encourages the public to play a role in conversation by keeping a safe distance from whales, properly disposing of fishing gear and debris, and promptly reporting injured or entangled whales.

The sighting of this fifth calf brings a welcome wave of optimism to ongoing efforts to protect and recover one of the world's most endangered whale species.

Original story by Claudia Landis https://www.counton2.com/news/spotted-5th-north-atlantic-right-whale-calf-off-sullivans-island/