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Right Whale Calf Dies off Jacksonville

NOAA Press Release

January 25, 2007

Contact:

Kim Amendola, NOAA (727) 551-5707 Jess Brown, FWC (727) 896-8626 ext. 2076 (727) 224-3674 (cell) Donny Brzuska, USCG (904) 564-7623

RIGHT WHALE CALF DIES OFF JACKSONVILLE

A dead right whale calf was reported by a commercial fisher approximately 400 yards off Jacksonville Beach earlier today. The 15 foot male calf appears to be very young, perhaps days old.

After the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the New England Aquarium verified the species and location of the whale, the United States Coast Guard towed the animal to the Mayport boat ramp.

There were no external signs as to the cause of death. The whale will be transported to the University of Florida Veterinary School where a team of scientists and pathologists will collect tissue samples and more closely examine the whale.

The North Atlantic right whale population is now estimated to be approximately 300 animals and is listed as “Endangered” under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. To date, ten mother-calf pairs have been spotted this season off the Florida and Georgia coasts in the only known calving grounds for Northern right whales.


This press release was issued by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)