Two endangered whales mysteriously pop up off unexpected US coastline, NOAA says
Two endangered whales are baffling researchers by continuing to show up along a stretch of U.S coast that is not part of their turf, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries.
The pair of North Atlantic right whales are not only 'out-of-habitat,' but they're hanging out in shallow water off the Florida Panhandle, the department said in an April 4 news release.
Multiple 'nearshore' sightings have been reported in the 40 miles between Panama City Beach and Destin, NOAA says. (Right whales reach up to 52 feet and weigh up to 140,000 pounds, making them tough to miss.)
The most recent sighting, on April 5, was off the Okaloosa Island Pier, about seven miles west of Destin, NOAA told McClatchy News in an email.
'While not unheard of, it's rare for North Atlantic right whales to be sighted in (Gulf of Mexico) waters. Since 2000, there have only been four other known instances of this occurring,' NOAA Fisheries says.
'Biologists are working with partners and law enforcement to raise awareness about the animals' presence. The public and mariners are asked to report all sightings immediately to our hotline (877-WHALE-HELP) so we can monitor their movements and body conditions.'
What caused this?
The two whales, known as Koala (age 16) and Curlew (age 14), have never before been seen in Gulf Coast waters, experts say.
'Both (are) adult females who could have been pregnant when they first came to the Southeast U.S. this calving season, although neither has been seen with a calf previously,' NOAA says.
It's unclear why they are continuing to travel west, but some research suggests climate change could be involved.
The traditional home for North Atlantic right whales (all 370 of them) stretches along the East Coast, from New England to the Southeastern U.S., NOAA says.
'North Atlantic right whales face many threats, including ... climate change — which may alter their migratory patterns and feeding areas,' a NOAA species profile reports.
Koala and Curlew 'appear to be in good health,' but their presence off one of Florida's tourism hot spots heightens the chances of a potentially deadly boat strike, experts say.
'Right whales tend to swim just below the surface and rest at the surface, making them difficult to spot,' NOAA says.
By law, people (and boats) must stay at least 500 yards from whales, NOAA says.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Former NOAA employees speaks out against budget cuts heading into hurricane season
Not too long ago, Andy Hazelton was gathering data in a plane for NOAA. He had just joined the agency in October 2024, but he was let go in February 2025. He doesn't know why. "We're public safety, and what we do, it matters for everybody, like I said. It's not political," Hazelton said. John Cortinas said he retired from the NOAA office in Virginia Key after cuts were being made. He said he didn't like the direction the agency was headed. "I was worried about what was happening and what we see happening, and I didn't want to be a part of that," Cortinas said. According to CBS News, about 2200 NOAA employees have been fired or have taken buyouts since January. About 500 people worked at the National Weather Service, which oversees the National Hurricane Center. A protest was held in downtown Miami about the cuts. "The work we do in a lot of ways pays for itself and is really one of the most efficient things out there," Hazelton said. "Many of these cuts happened just before hurricane season. And now that we're in hurricane season, many of these protestors feel these cuts make them vulnerable." CBS News asked the National Hurricane Center Director, Mike Brennan, about the agency's preparedness for storm season. "We're fully operational, ready for the hurricane season. Our products, services and warnings are going to go out as they always do," Brennan told CBS News. But protesters feel the cuts are an attack on science. "To think that our federal government would even consider cutting scientific research that could literally be life-saving for so many millions of people that live along the coastline here in Florida... It's just appalling and it's shocking," said Raquel Pacheco, of Indivisible Miami, which is a progressive, grassroots, political organization. The Trump administration said the cuts are part of a broader strategy to cut federal spending and streamline the federal workforce.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels break seasonal records: NOAA
Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide made history last month by climbing to their highest seasonal peak available in historical records, a team of researchers reported. For the first time ever, these levels surpassed 430 parts per million (ppm) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, which is considered the global benchmark site for tracking atmospheric carbon dioxide. The 430.2 ppm calculation for May marked a 3.5 ppm increase over May 2024's reading of 426.7 ppm, according to scientists from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the the University of California, San Diego, who worked together with colleagues at NOAA. 'Another year, another record,' Ralph Keeling, director of the Scripps CO2 Program, said in a statement. 'It's sad.' At an elevation of 11,141 feet above sea level, the observatory is located on the slopes of the Mauna Loa volcano and produces measurements that reflect the average state of the atmosphere for the Northern Hemisphere. Carbon dioxide, the scientists explained, acts like a blanket — trapping heat and warming the lower atmosphere, as well as altering weather patterns and fueling extreme weather events. The surge in CO2 concentrations is also contributing to acidification and causing changes in ocean chemistry that affect the survival of marine organisms, according to the researchers. A half-century of sampling at Mauna Loa, conducted by researchers at both NOAA and Scripps, have provided a baseline for tracking the increase of human-generated carbon emissions, the scientists noted. They acknowledged, however, that the station does not capture the full extent as to how carbon CO2 concentrations can vary across the planet — as stations in the Southern Hemisphere have yet to cross the 430-ppm threshold. NOAA's global sampling network, as well as 14 worldwide stations operated by the Scripps CO2 program, are also contributing to the broader planetary picture and helping identify locations of carbon sources and sinks, the researchers added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Miami Herald
‘Armored' creatures with ‘whip' tails and four other new species discoveries
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Unique creatures, odd animals and new species are being discovered across the planet. Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses. Learn more about some recent new species discoveries: 'Armored' creature with 'whip'-like tail pulled from river. It's a new species In southeastern Brazil, researchers discovered a new species named Rineloricaria buckupi, or Buckup's whiptail catfish, in the rivers near Rio de Janeiro. This 'armored' catfish, covered in body plates and sporting a 'whip'-like tail, was found in shallow streams often near bridges and highways. | Published May 30 | Read More | Camouflaged creature found in 'sacred forests' of Madagascar. It's a new species In the 'sacred forests' of southern Madagascar, scientists discovered the Paragehyra tsaranoro, or Tsaranoro half-padded gecko. This camouflaged creature, with its 'flattened' body and 'rounded' snout, was found in forest fragments surrounding the Andringitra Massif. The species is considered critically endangered due to its limited distribution and ongoing habitat threats. | Published June 2 | Read More | 'Large'-tongued creature found in water tank at India home. It's a new species In northeastern India, researchers discovered the Amolops shillong, or Shillong cascade frog, perched inside a water tank in the city of Shillong. These frogs, with 'large' tongues and 'fluorescent green' sides, were found in urban habitats, showcasing their adaptation to human-modified environments. The species faces threats due to being harvested for its meat. | Published June 3 | Read More | 2-foot-long ocean predator with 'blade-like' teeth discovered as a new species Off the southern coast of India, scientists identified a new species called Iago gopalakrishnani, or the Indian houndshark, after it was accidentally caught by shrimp trawlers. This deep-sea predator, with 'blade-like' teeth and 'slender' bodies, was found in the Arabian Sea. The species is named in honor of a marine fish geneticist for his contributions to fish conservation. | Published June 4 | Read More | Pregnant creature with 'large' golden eyes found in Cambodia. It's a new species In western Cambodia, researchers discovered the Cyrtodactylus kampingpoiensis, or Kamping Poi bent-toed gecko, on rocky karst hills in the Banan District. This gecko, with 'large' golden eyes and 'bent' toes, was found in unexplored rock formations, indicating the region's undocumented biodiversity. The species was named after the hill where it was first discovered. | Published June 4 | Read More | McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery and sightings of unusual and intriguing species. Check back for the latest stories.
