Baby Whales Sighted Gives New Hope For Endangered Species

NEW ENGLAND -- Three North Atlantic right whale calves have been spotted again this year. The scene shed a new ray of hope from being fully extinct. Considered as one of the world's largest whale species, the sighting of two calves of its kind proves to be interesting.

The Center For Coastal Studies conducted its aerial survey in Cape Cod bay of New England, the team caught sight of two new calves bringing its number to a total of three calves this year alone. The records show that there are only about 411 of these whales left all over the world. Sadly, not a single calf was spotted last year, making researchers wonder if the whales of such kind are already at the edge of extinction. The new sighting reveals otherwise.

At the beginning of 2019, The Natural Resource Defense Council reported seven calves been spotted off the coasts of Georgia and Florida. This is the common place where these whales usually give birth. After calving, the males of these whales find their way to the north up to New England by April. The three that were spotted in New England were among the seven seen in the South Coast.

"Every calf born is precious." Charles "Stormy" Mayo, Right Whale Ecology Program director at the Center For Coastal Studies told CNN.

Francine Kershaw of the NRDC revealed in a blog post. "The seven calves born this year offer an emblem of hope that these North Atlantic right whales can bounce back is population, if only they were given a chance."

This population of whales has been hit hard by the risks of extinction in the previous years. In 2017 alone, 17 right whales were washed into the shore of the Atlantic beaches. This was an unusually high number even for this kind. According to the report released by Mayo, about 50 whales have died in this decade and the number is growing.

"If there are no calves and the number of whales turning up on the shore dying are growing, then it only means that the whales are in a pretty bad situation," Mayo said.

Since 1970, North Atlantic right whales have been listed under the endangered species after being hunted for most of the 19th century. Now, the advent of climate change and noise pollution from boats are hindering the whales to recuperate and strive.

The sighting of the three calves of right whales are a "Good Sign." Mayo added that 'these three whales are doing very well."