Endangered right whales appear to be on the rebound (CNN)

[eppur_se_muova]

By John D. Sutter
CNN

(CNN) -- North Atlantic right whales, sort of the homely underdogs of the whale world, birthed a record number calves this year off the coast of the southeast United States, giving some scientists hope that the uber-rare and often overlooked species can recover.

"For me, personally, it is a source of optimism," said Barb Zoodsma, a marine mammal biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "I just think we're on the right track."

The record 39 new calves -- each of which weights about 3,000 pounds -- were born off the Atlantic coast of Florida and Georgia.

The calving season for the school-bus-sized species formally ended March 31, and the whales are now headed north along the East Coast of the United States.

Only about 400 of the marine mammals are thought to exist, making right whales one of the most endangered large whale species in the world.
***
more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/04/03/right.whale.rebound/index.html

[Dead_Parrot]

1. Cool

Although there goes our "good news" quota for this month.

[damntexdem]

2. Yeah, sure, but the wrong whales are in big trouble.

And the blue whales are really depressed. ;-)

[MindPilot]

3. Wow! I didn't even know fat republicans were endangered.

:silly:

[applegrove]

4. Good news.