Beneath the ocean’s surface, a gentle giant cruises through the ocean with purpose. The North Atlantic right whale, one of the most endangered marine mammals, is on a journey toward survival in the face of formidable odds.
For centuries, these majestic creatures were hunted for their oil-rich blubber. Since they are slow swimmers and typically stay close to the shore, they earned the grim title of the “right” whale to hunt. By the 20th century, relentless hunting had pushed their numbers to the brink of extinction. Today, despite being protected from hunting since 1935, about 370 North Atlantic right whales remain. Each one plays a critical role in balancing the ocean ecosystem.
Right whales have faced immense challenges, and the fact they are still in our oceans is just as impressive as the creatures themselves. Human-caused factors are still the main reason for their mortality rate, including vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. In 2010 these factors led to an uptick in North Atlantic right whale morality, which highlighted the ongoing threats to the species survival.
As the species continue to face significant difficulties, the push for more protection became a central focus. These efforts include restrictions for vessels in right whale habitats, improved fishing gear modifications, and better management of human activities in the whales’ range to help mitigate these threats.
To assist in these efforts, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2020 began funding for daily (weather permitting) NARW aerial surveys in North and South Carolina during calving season which lasts mid-November until mid-April. These surveys have become a key tool in monitoring the whales’ movements and enhancing efforts to protect them from the many threats they face. The surveyors can track and identify injured and entangled whales and reduce vessel strike risk by alerting mariners about right whale presence to help prevent any tragedies. Each whale’s unique callosity pattern allows surveyors to maintain an ongoing catalog of individual sightings, contributing valuable data to conservation efforts.
Off the coastline, a heart wrenching story of a mother, Juno, and her calf unfolded. Juno was first sighted by the North Carolina aerial survey team on November 24, 2023, off Ocracoke, NC. Unbeknownst to the survey team, Juno was pregnant at the time of this sighting. Just days later, on November 28, 2023, Juno was spotted again this time off Cane Island, SC, accompanied by her newborn calf. In the weeks following, Juno and her calf were seen several times in the coastal waters of both Florida and Georgia. Their presence brought hope to those protecting the critically endangered species.
However, their story took a tragic turn on January 3, 2024, when a boater near Edisto Island, SC, reported spotting Juno and her calf. But this sighting was different from the others, it was evident that the calf had sustained severe injuries to its head, mouth, and lip from a vessel strike. Despite the severity of the injuries, Juno and her injured calf were sighted several times over the next couple months while researchers monitored the pair. Although the prognosis was not good, the fact the calf had survived for several weeks gave hope that maybe the injuries would heal. Tragically this hope was shattered on March 3, 2024, when Juno’s calf was found dead on Cumberland Island, GA. The last time Juno was sighted was on March 17, 2024, off Currituck Banks, NC, presumably heading back north to her feeding ground off New England and the Atlantic provinces of Canada.
This tragic tale illustrates one of the immense challenges the whales endure. USACE plans to continue funding and overseeing daily NARW aerial survey teams during calving season. With the ability to identify and track injured or entangled right whales, we aim to work towards a future where stories like Juno and her calf are not tales of tragedy but of resilience and recovery. Educating the public is a huge aspect of these efforts. There are several outreach efforts in place to assist with educating those who are unaware of these issues. USACE will continue to do our part to help protect the NARW population. With these efforts in place, we hope to see these species thrive in the generations to come. Follow USACE on all Social Media platforms
@CharlestonCorps to get up to date information on the whales and their sightings!