First right whale calves of season spotted off Florida and Georgia coasts
Vilano Beach, Fla – The Clearwater Marine Aquarium said Tuesday that the first right whale calves of the season have been spotted off the coasts of Florida and Georgia. She knew in that moment it was a North Atlantic right whale calf. The second live right whale calf of the season was spotted (swimming with a pod of bottlenose dolphins) off Vilano Beach, FL by FWC December 6. (Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute)The right whale is a federally protected endangered species under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Researchers estimate there are less than 400 North Atlantic right whales left in the population, with fewer than 100 breeding females left.