Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis)
Here is the last of the rights, the Southern right whale. They are the best known of the three species, occupying the widest range, and also the only one that isn’t endangered. After the northern right whales nearly became extinct due to overexploitation, whalers shifted their focus to the southern oceans, and with the onset of industrial whaling catches increased exponentially. In 1937 a ban was put on right whaling (more than 50 years before the universal ban) because all three species were nearing extinction, but some nations continued to hunt them illegally. Especially the Soviet Union hit the remaining population hard, taking more than 3300 animals between 1950 and 1960. It wasn't until the early 1960s that Southern right whales were even seen in New Zealand waters again, and it is said that if the illegal Soviet whaling had not happened, the NZ population would be three times its current size. Luckily, unlike their northern counterparts, this southern species is recovering from whaling activities in the past and slowly increasing in number.
However these whales are facing modern day threats too, and one comes from an unexpected corner: Kelp gulls. They are a naturally occurring species in Patagonia (Argentina), and used to peacefully coexist with the right whales that come there each year to mate and give birth. However in recent years human waste (e.g. garbage dumps) has boosted the population incredibly, and since 1996 Kelp gulls have been observed feeding off live right whales. The gulls wait for a whale to come to the surface, then land on the whale’s back and use their powerful beak to hack into the skin. They feed off the blubber, creating huge holes - the whale in the illustration has scars on her back from exactly such attacks. The whales are literally being eaten alive, and constant pestering from the gulls decreases the time mothers can spend at the surface to nurture their calves. Calves themselves are targeted even more than their mothers because they're still slow simmers, and Kelp gull attacks are a big factor in calf mortality off Patagonia. It is a very tough problem to get rid of too, as the behaviour is passed on from adult gulls to juveniles. It's unfortunately one of the many ways in which we indirectly harm and endanger whales.
Last but not least, something has to be said for looks: even though the three right whale species are visually indistinguishable, there are some clues to be had when it comes to differentiating them, and one of them is colouration. All three species can have white markings, but only a Southern right whale would ever have as much white as this whale. Some right whales also bear an even more distinctive colouration pattern, and while it can be observed in all three species, it is most often found in the southern. This pattern is called 'brindle', and it means the whale is born largely white, instead of all dark. It is only seen in 3-4% of the population, so quite a rare sight! Usually these whales are males, and while they do darken with age, they will never be completely black. Instead they become a light grey in colour, often with black spots on top. Some whales remain completely white, even after growing up! About 6% of the population is partially brindle coloured, and these animals are always female. And if a male and female brindled right whale mate, their offspring is sure to be a brindle too ;)
