Update on 2001-2002 Whale Claving Season
Info from Chris Slay - New England Aquarium
The first sighting of the season occurred on December 2
off Cumberland Island, Georgia and the first confirmed
mother/calf pair was sighted December 19 five miles off
Amelia Island, FL, both by the
Early Warning System Survey
Team. This year the aerial
survey teams and Jim Hain,
MRC’s Scientific Advisor,
photographed and identified
16 mother/calf right whale
pairs (calves all healthy and
strong) and approximately 10
individuals. Last year 31
calves were born to the
population and 27 of them
lived through their first year,
making it a record calving
season. At least five of those
mothers returned to the
calving ground this year with
their yearlings. The yearlings
are reportedly about 30 feet
long and very fat! During the
1999-2000 season, only one
calf was born to the
population.
Next article: Whale Program Has Busy 2001-2002 Season
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