Curlew and Koala, two female right whales, were observed swimming south of the birthing grounds off of Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida. Researchers escorted them in small boats and observed them in aircraft swimming outside the Indian River Lagoon. The two whales swam past Mar-a-Lago, where researchers had to give way to patrolling military vessels and aircraft.
Researchers found Curlew and Koala further south. The whales passed through the Florida Keys into the Gulf, and Dauphin Island Sea Lab biologists were delighted to see them off Mobile Bay, Alabama. A surprised fishing charter boat operator exclaimed: “It was like ‘Is that a wave?’ and then I realize, ‘Oh, man, that’s a whale!’”
Curlew and Koala were most recently seen swimming south off Tampa, Florida. These hungry females are New England-bound to break their fast on the zooplankton of Nantucket shoals and Cape Cod Bay. Right whales have been arriving earlier in March and staying longer.
A gam of ten mother right whales gave birth to calves this winter. Congratulations to Platypus (age 21 years) with her second calf, Cashew (age 23) with her third calf, Accordion (at least 14 years old) with her first calf, Check Mark (age 18) with her first calf, Grand Teton (at least 44) with her ninth calf, Black Heart with her second calf, Caterpillar (age 20) with her first calf, Minus One (at least 31 years old) with calf, Nauset (age 31) with calf, and No. 4540, a first-time whale mother.
We’re specifically inviting organizations, groups, and associations to sign our letter urging NOAA to create the Right Whale National Marine Sanctuary in the sandy shoaling waters from Duxbury Beach around Cape Cod and the Islands to Block Island. If you have the authority to sign for your organization, please add them to this form to join us in urging NOAA to act.
We need every organization standing in solidarity with right whales. Thank you.
Steady on,
Rob
