Right whale baby boom encouraging for scientists
28 confirmed births this year, agency says

Telegraph-Journal
July 08/05

   There have been 28 confirmed right whale births this year, a veritable baby boom for the critically endangered species.
   The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has confirmed the 28th sighting of a mother-calf pair of North Atlantic right whales. The pair has been seen off the coast of South Carolina. The whales migrate north into the Bay of Fundy during the summer.
   There are about 300 North Atlantic right whales in existence. Whaling decimated the species - it got its name because it was considered the "right" whale to hunt. The whale population's recovery has been hampered by injuries and deaths caused by fishing gear entanglements and ship strikes.
   In 2001, another whale baby boom year, there were 31 confirmed new right whale births.
   Not all the baby whales will survive to reproduce.

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