There are approximately individuals remaining, including about 70 reproductively active females. With so few of these whales left, researchers closely monitor the Southeast for new offspring during the annual right whale calving season.
Researchers have identified nine calves so far this calving season. North Atlantic right whales are dying faster than they can reproduce, largely due to human causes.
Since , the whales have been experiencing an Unusual Mortality Event , which has resulted in more than 20 percent of the population being sick, injured, or killed. The primary causes of the Unusual Mortality Event are entanglements in fishing gear and collisions with boats and ships. Researchers estimate there are about 70 reproductively active females remaining.
These females are producing fewer calves each year, which impacts the ability of the species to recover. Female right whales become sexually mature at about age They give birth to a single calf after a year-long pregnancy.
Three years is considered a normal or healthy interval between right whale births. But now, on average, they are having calves every 6 to 10 years. Biologists believe the additional stress from entanglements, vessel strike injuries, and changes in prey availability due to climate change all likely contribute to right whales calving less often, even when the females survive the event.
