Reestablishment of former wintering grounds by New Zealand southern right whales

Southern right whales (SRWs) have reestablished their historical wintering grounds around mainland New Zealand, with regular sightings since 1988. This resurgence, likely from a remnant population persisting in the subantarctic Auckland and Campbell Islands, shows promise for recovery after near-extinction due to whaling. Between 2003 and 2010, 125 sightings were recorded, including 28 cow-calf pairs—a significant increase compared to earlier decades. Two females were documented returning to the mainland with calves every four years, indicating site fidelity. Photographic identification and DNA profiling further revealed within-year movements and connectivity between mainland and subantarctic grounds. While the majority of SRWs remain concentrated in the subantarctic, this study highlights a positive trend in their range expansion.

Carroll, E. L., Rayment, W. J., Alexander, A. M., Baker, C. S., Patenaude, N. J., Steel, D., Constantine, R., Cole, R., Boren, L. J., & Childerhouse, S. (2013). Reestablishment of former wintering grounds by New Zealand southern right whales. Marine Mammal Science, 30(1), 206–220. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12031