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2 more right whale calves spotted off Florida coast

ORLANDO, Fla. — Two new mother-calf pairs were sighted off the coast of Florida last weekend.

This brings the 2023 calving season total to four.

On Sunday a 1-year-old calf and its mother, catalog #3430, were spotted off the coast of Crescent Beach, Florida.

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A second right whale, catalog #1711, and her calf were sighted near the Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia on Dec. 17.

Every year researchers closely monitor the southeastern United States for new offspring during the annual right whale calving season.

The first newborn North Atlantic right whale calves were spotted in early December.

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NOAA estimates there are fewer than 350 North Atlantic right whales remaining.

Every identified North Atlantic right whale is assigned a four-digit number in the “Right Whale Catalog” and researchers assign names to whales based on unique physical features or stories in connection to a community where they have been spotted.

More information about NOAA Fisheries 2023 calving season and updates can be found here.

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Matt Reeser

Matt Reeser, WFTV.com

Matt Reeser joined WFTV in 1998 as a news photographer and has worked for television stations in Kentucky and West Virginia.

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