Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis)

Species information

Videos and images

Threats

Following serious over-exploitation from the 1600s until the 1930s, the southern right whale population became dangerously low (2) (6). International protection in 1935 allowed a slow increase, but illegal whaling continued into the 1960s. Since then, the population has been increasing at the calculated ‘maximum rate’ (7). However, whilst this huge and unsustainable threat has largely been eliminated, pressures on the southern right whale still exist. Disturbance from vessels, divers, coastal industrial activity, entanglement in fishing gear and pollution are all concerns (2).

Conservation

International protection by the International Whaling Commission and individual country programs to protect whales has produced significant results since the ban on hunting this species (7). Conservation activities currently include monitoring population numbers and behaviour through the use of photo identification of individuals, assessing the effects of disturbance, and education programs (2).