October 23, 2024 — The number of North Atlantic right whales increased slightly last year, offering a glimmer of positive news for the critically endangered population.
There were 372 right whales counted, according to new data from the New England Aquarium and the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium.
Philip Hamilton, a senior scientist with the aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center, said the increase from 2023 reflects the birth of 12 whales. But it’s not a complete picture.
“The news for 2024 is much more sobering, with nine deaths, 13 injuries,” Hamilton said.
One right whale died from an entanglement in Maine fishing gear; three others were struck by boats. Another died from an unknown cause. And though 20 calves were born this year, a handful have already disappeared.