Solid Winter for Right Whales

‘AVERAGE’ SEASON GOOD FOR RIGHT WHALES

For rare North Atlantic right whales, average can be a good thing.

Biologists monitoring the imperiled whales that usually give birth off the coast of Georgia, Florida and South Carolina documented 20 cow/calf pairs this winter – 19 in the Southeast and one in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts.

While the annual average since 2000 is 21, this year’s total marked a significant increase over the seven calves in 2012.

Clay George, who heads right whale research for Georgia DNR, said the population is increasing at an estimated 2 percent per year. Although calf production can vary widely from year to year, a string of poor calving seasons could reverse that upward trend.

“It was another average season, which is just what we needed after such a poor showing last season,” said George, a wildlife biologist with DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section.

There are only about 450 North Atlantic right whales left and fewer than 100 breeding females.

• Read today's media release for more updates.
• See photos of North Atlantic right whales.
• Learn about right whales and other rare Georgia wildlife. 
• Help conserve nongame in our state. 

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