The Whalers Are Long Gone, but These Great Whales Are Still Struggling

"Researchers have created the first reliable population estimates for the now-rare New Zealand southern right whale."

"Once upon a time, tens of thousands of right whales congregated along New Zealand’s coast—so many that people in seaside towns complained about how much noise they made.

Today the species is still recovering from a century of intense whaling, and remains a rare visitor to the mainland.

The first comprehensive estimate of the population shows the devastation large-scale whaling left in the South Pacific: At the start of the 19th century, there were 28,000 to 47,100 New Zealand southern right whales.

At the start of this century, there were 3,300 to 5,700—just 12 percent of the pre-whaling population."

Emily J. Gertz reports for TakePart March 16, 2016.