Statement: Right whale mother dead off coast of Virginia

Update (4/4/24): NOAA announced the whale indeed died due to a ship collision and the preliminary investigation indicates  “catastrophic injuries with a dislocation of the whale’s spine” that “are consistent with blunt force trauma from a vessel strike prior to death”.  

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — Less than a month after a  North Atlantic right whale calf washed ashore on the coast of Georgia, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has confirmed that another right whale has been found dead off the coast of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia. 

While the official cause of death is yet to be released, NOAA confirmed the whale’s identity as a female first spotted in 1989. The whale recently gave birth to her sixth calf during the 2024 calving season. Her calf was not found and is considered seriously injured due to the death of its mother.

This is yet another upsetting blow for the critically endangered right whale species, which frequently die of human-related causes. Of the whale’s remaining members, only about 70 are females of reproductive age. The loss of another female whale further decreases the chances that the population of right whales can recover from the brink of extinction. 

Today, scientists estimate that fewer than 360 right whales are left, and that the species can afford to lose less than one whale per year to human causes. This is the fourth death this year and with the critical condition of the calf, that number is likely to rise. 

Elly Boehmer Wilson, State Director of Environment Virginia, released the following statement: 

“I’m really tired of writing ‘more bad news for right whales.’ Even if right whales were thriving, just a single whale’s death due to human causes would be a tragedy. With right whales facing extinction, it’s even more devastating. From using ropeless fishing gear to stopping ship collisions, there is no shortage of steps we can take to protect these amazing creatures. We must take action before we lose these whales forever.”