Scientists cheer discovery of unknown baby right whale off Canada

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – It would seem tough to miss a 15, 000-pound (6, 804-kilogram) baby, but for months scientists who study rare whales did just that, and now they couldn't be happier.

What happened

Researchers in Canada captured images of an unidentified baby North Atlantic right whale, one of the rarest sea mammals in the world, off Anticosti Island in Quebec in September. Scientists with the New England Aquarium in Boston remarked this week that after analyzing photos and data concerning right whales, they have determined it was a calf probable born months ago that went unseen during winter surveys for the giant animals.

Meanwhile, the discovery puts the number of baby right whales discovered from the most recent birthing season at 24, the most productive year for the whales since 2009 and the fourth-highest count on record, the aquarium remarked. The whales number only regarding 380 in the world, and their population has fallen since 2010.

The bottom line

In short, scientists cheer discovery of unknown baby right whale off Canada is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.