What do we know about the southern right whale in the Strait of Magellan? This study reveals it.
- Published: 2006
- Authors: Jorge Gibbons, Juan J. Capella, Alejandro Kusch and Jaime Cárcamo
- Download the full study here
Study summary
This article documents the state of the southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) in it Strait of Magellan, a species that was severely affected by commercial hunting between the 18th and 20th centuries, and which has since been very rarely sighted in Chilean waters.
Key Findings
They registered 11 confirmed sightings between 1985 and 2006 in the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel.
Among them, it was observed offspring and mother-offspring pairs, suggesting possible breeding or resting areas.
The sightings were concentrated in the central and eastern sector of the Strait, with total absence in the fjords of southern Chile.
Some specimens could belong to the population of the Southwest Atlantic (such as the Valdés Peninsula), which suggests a little-explored interoceanic connection.
Where was the research done?
In the Strait of Magellan, the Patagonian fjords, Tierra del Fuego, and the Beagle Channel, commercial ferries, boat excursions, and shore-based observations were used between 1999 and 2006.
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Why is this study important?
- The southern right whale has been a protected species since 1935, but its recovery in the Southeast Pacific has been slow and poorly documented.
- These sightings represent a significant fraction of the total records in Chile during the 20th century.
- The study helps map new areas of presence and raises questions about migrations and connections between oceans that are not yet fully understood.
