Good news from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: A mother and calf right whale (Eubalaena australis), which were spotted March 26 in the Gulf of Mexico north of Marathon, have safely traversed the Florida Keys.
Biologists concerned about the whales getting stuck in shallow water around the Keys had requested help from the public to boat with caution, stay 500 yards away and immediately report sightings to the dedicated hotline 1-877-WHALE-HELP. A day later, the momma and her baby were spotted safely back in deeper water south of Key West, navigating around the Keys to head up the East Coast.
On April 7, the marine sanctuary posted an “encouraging update” — the traveling pair were spotted off Cape Lookout, North Carolina, traveling north. The pair are likely headed toward Stellwagen Bank or Cape Cod Bay.
