SCIENTISTS HAVE MADE THE FIRST SIGHTING OF A NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE IN AZORES SINCE 1888

On 5th January 2009 at 16:40 a North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) was observed 5 miles South of Faial island, Azores, by biologists from Whale Watch Azores and the University of the Azores. They were guided to the animal by a land-based lookout.

Identification photographs were taken and matched to the North Atlantic Right Whale Catalogue showing that that this animal was whale number 3270, last seen in the Bay of Fundy on the US coast on the 24th September 2008.

The Northern right whale is highly endanagerd with an estimated population of only around 300 in the North Atlantic. It used to occur on both sides of the Atlantic but is  now regraded as effecttively extinct on European and Scandinavian coasts.

Image courtesy Lisa Steiner/Whale Watch Azores

Source: Whalewatch Azores.