The Georgia Department Of natural Resources announced this week that an aerial survey team spotted the first mother-and-calf right whale pair of the 2019-2020 season Monday in waters off of Sapelo Island, just off of the Georgia coast. The mother whale was identified by her number in the New England Aquarium Right Whale catalog as #3560. She is known to biologists and this is her first calf.
The whales are listed as critically endangered, and migrate each winter to warmer waters of the southeastern United States coast to give birth. Scientists estimate just over 400 North Atlantic right whales remain.
Boaters are reminded to give right whales space of at least 500 yards and report sightings to 877-WHALE-HELP (877) 942-5343.