The Right Whale

“The Right Whale gets its name from early whalers who considered them to be the “right” whales to hunt. Their slower pace, the fact that they come close to land, their tendency to float after being killed and their “productivity” in terms of oil made them lucrative animals to target.”  Whalers hunted 150,000 Southern right whales in the 19th century bringing their population today to less than 10,000. Between 300 and 350 North Atlantic right whales still exist, but despite seven decades of protection efforts, no population growth has been observed. In August 2009, the U.S. Navy announced that it will construct its Undersea Warfare Training Range near the only known calving ground."

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Buy local goods that don’t require overseas shipping. Support the Cornell Bioacoustic Research Program, which tracks the sounds of right whales and alerts ship captains in the vicinity. Establish speed-limit restrictions in coastal waters frequented by right whales.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

• Visit Listen for Whales and NOAA