FREDERICTON, NB –
An endangered North Atlantic right whale scientist is cautiously optimistic about the current breeding season after nine cubs were discovered in the first few weeks of their life. it.
Moira Brown, senior scientist with the Canadian Whaling Institute, said less than 100 of the 340 animals that survive in the waters along Canada’s east coast are mothers and describe the newborn whales. is a sign of hope for the future.
The breeding season of North Atlantic right whales begins in mid-November and lasts until mid-April.
There were only 15 calves last year, much lower than the average of 24 reported in the early 2000s. Brown said there were also no first-time mothers, which supports the study’s findings. trend towards a decrease in the number of fertile women.
She said the interval between one birth and another is usually three to five years, but recently scientists have seen that time expand to seven to 10 years.
She said that right whales in the North Atlantic face a variety of stresses including collisions with ships, entanglement and lack of food due to warming waters, which can affect reproduction.
