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The mysterious journey of the North Pacific right whale: Where does this rare creature spend its summers
The North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica) is a large, thick-bodied baleen whale that is extremely rare and endangered. According to new research, there may be as few as 40 North Pacific right whales left in the northeastern Pacific, while the whales that spend the summer in the western population may number in the hundreds. During the commercial whaling era before 1835, right whales numbered more than 20,000 in the North Pacific. Although hunting these whales has been banned since 1935, illegal whaling by the Soviet Union still resulted in the deaths of hundreds of right whales in the 1960s.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the North Pacific right whale as "endangered" and deems the population in the northeastern Pacific as "critically endangered."
Taxonomy
Since 2000, scientists have considered right whales in the North Pacific and adjacent waters to be a separate species, the North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica). The study showed that E. japonica and E. australis are far less genetically different than other baleen whale species between different ocean basins. In appearance, these species are very similar, and future research will likely shed further light on their evolutionary relationships.
Appearance Description
The North Pacific right whale is a very large, heavily built baleen whale, typically 15 to 18.3 m (49 to 60 ft) in length and weighing from 50,000 to 100,000 kg (110,000 to 220,000 lb).
The most distinctive physical features of the North Pacific right whale include the absence of a dorsal fin, a broad black back, and bumps (called "callosities") on the head and mouth. These whales typically feed by "gliding," constantly scooping up water to eat small plankton, such as naked beetles.
Ecology and Behavior
Feeding habits
North Pacific right whales feed primarily on encapsulated plankton, particularly species belonging to the genus Calanus marshallae. The feeding of these whales is affected by region and season, and studies in the northeastern Pacific have shown that these whales need to seek out areas with higher concentrations of plankton to obtain sufficient energy.
Behavioral characteristics
Although observations of North Pacific right whales are relatively limited, the few visual observations have provided some behavioral clues. According to old whaling records, these right whales seem to be very sensitive to human activity, often fleeing or diving longer due to approaching ships.
Scientists have found similarities between the calls of the North Pacific right whale and other right whale species studied in recent years, but there are some differences in the details.
Habitat Preference
North Pacific right whales' habitat preferences change with the seasons. Although these whales seek out rich food areas during the summer, their winter habitat remains a mystery. This has left researchers to rely on other data for their analyses of habitat preferences.
Historical and Current Population
Before commercial whaling, approximately 20,000 to 30,000 North Pacific right whales roamed the waters of the northeastern Pacific. As whaling increased, these whale populations suffered greatly. Today, the survival of this whale still faces many challenges, and we need to pay further attention to and protect this precious species.
Will the future of North Pacific right whales improve as a result of conservation efforts, or will they be lost to history?
