2026 North Atlantic right whale calving season
2026 North Atlantic right whale calving season
With only around 380 North Atlantic right whales remaining in the ocean, every individual matters for the survival of this critically endangered species. That’s why every year, in the southeastern US, we track the births of new North Atlantic right whale calves.
Sadly, North Atlantic right whales face threats in the form of vessel strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, ocean noise pollution, and climate change. They can live up to 70 years, but increasing fishing and boating activities—not to mention the imminent threat climate change poses to ocean temperatures—shorten the lifespans of these magnificent marine mammals, who are some of the largest living animals on Earth.
North Atlantic right whales are not reproducing fast enough to offset their deaths. Since NOAA declared an Unusual Mortality Event in 2017, there have been 41 documented right whale deaths, 40 serious injuries and 87 morbidities, which represents over 40% of the current North Atlantic right whale population. Further, research suggests that that only 1/3 of right whale deaths are documented, so the death toll is likely much higher. In comparison, there have only been 100 births in this same period—and at least nine of those calves died in the same season they were born.
The North Atlantic right whale calving season begins each year in mid-November and ends around mid-April. With only 70 reproductive female North Atlantic right whales remaining, we keep a close watch on them and their new calves to help ensure their survival. Considering these current numbers, 20 new calf births would be considered a relatively productive calving season. However, given the high rate of mortality and injury, North Atlantic right whales need to have at least 50 new calves per year to recover and grow their population. If the species fell to only 50 reproductive females, they would become functionally extinct.
To stay up to date with the latest 2026 North Atlantic Right Whale Calving Season news and receive updates about the births of new whale calves, bookmark this page and check back in regularly. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for live updates.
28 November 2025 — Champagne spotted with her second calf
The first mom-calf pair of the 2025–2026 season has been sighted off South Carolina. Champagne (#3904), a 17-year-old female, was spotted by Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s aerial survey team with her second known calf. Born in 2009 to Spindle (#1204)—the most prolific mother in the known population—Champagne is part of a large and complex family tree. Her first calf, Wall-E, was born in 2021, making this five-year calving interval a hopeful sign for right whale recovery.
Despite enduring five entanglements herself, and 21 across her immediate family, Champagne shows remarkable resilience. She carries visible scarring but continues to thrive. This new calf represents not just another birth, but a testament to endurance in the face of human threats.
3 December 2025 — Millipede welcomes her third calf
Florida Fish and Wildlife spotted the season’s second mom-calf pair off the Florida–Georgia border: 21-year-old Millipede (#3520) with her third known calf. Born in 2005 to Naevus (#2040) and part of a vast family tree tracing back to matriarch Wart (#1140), Millipede represents a strong maternal line. Her own calves include one born in 2013 and another in 2021.
Millipede has survived four entanglements and a vessel strike. Her name comes from a series of healed propeller scars—evidence of a boat collision when she was just a year old. Tragically, her family has suffered greatly from similar encounters, with at least three relatives killed by vessels. Each new calf is a chance to carry forward resilience, and a reminder of the threats these whales still face.
4 December 2025 — Callosity Back becomes a first-time mom
Spotted off South Carolina by Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s team, Callosity Back (#3760) has been seen with her very first calf—making her the first-known new mother of the 2025–2026 season. Born in 2007 to Derecha (#2360) and Gemini (#1150), Callosity Back is the first of her mother’s offspring to calve, making Derecha a grandmother for the first time.
She’s easily recognizable thanks to a rare callosity patch on her back—a feature typically only seen on right whales’ heads. Despite three known entanglements early in life, she has remained free of further incidents for over a decade. With a family history that includes 28 entanglements and one vessel strike, every new calf is both a celebration and a reminder of what’s at stake.
The North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog keeps track of every whale and whale calf identified by researchers. Every whale is assigned a four-digit number, but many are also given names—especially those that have unique physical features or interesting stories.
11 new calves were born last year during the 2025 season. You can learn more on IFAW’s 2025 calving season report card.
In the year prior (2024), researchers identified 20 new calves, but sadly five died or are presumed to be dead.
Here’s how many right whale calves have been born since the 2007 season:
- 2025: 11 calves
- 2024: 20 calves
- 2023: 12 calves
- 2022: 15 calves
- 2021: 20 calves
- 2020: 10 calves
- 2019: 7 calves
- 2018: 0 calves
- 2017: 5 calves
- 2016: 14 calves
- 2015: 17 calves
- 2014: 11 calves
- 2013: 20 calves
- 2012: 7 calves
- 2011: 22 calves
- 2010: 19 calves
- 2009: 39 calves
- 2008: 23 calves
- 2007: 23 calves
Between the years of 2007 and 2022, 15.7 calves were born on average each season. Since the Unusual Mortality Event that was declared in 2017, only 11 calves have been born on average each season.
How reproduction works for right whales
Every year, North Atlantic right whales migrate more than 1,000 miles from their northern feeding grounds to the shallow, coastal waters in the southeastern US. This is where they breed and birth their calves.
Potential mothers are at reproductive risk due to escalating stressors in the environment. Research shows that the energetic impacts of sub-lethal entanglements and other stressors are stunting the growth of whales; shorter body lengths are associated with longer birth intervals and low birth rates.
Females that have severe injuries from entanglement have the lowest birth rates. As the health of female right whales declines, their birthing intervals increase.
How many babies do North Atlantic right whales have?
The gestation period for North Atlantic right whales is about one year long. After their year-long pregnancy, the mother gives birth to a single calf. Female North Atlantic right whales typically become sexually mature at 10 years old.
The calving interval for reproductive females is widening. Adult females previously gave birth to a calf every three years, but now they are only calving every six to 10 years, likely due to the additional stress of entanglement, climate change, and other threats.
How long do North Atlantic right whale calves stay with their mothers?
North Atlantic right whale calves are typically weaned at about one year old.
How big are North Atlantic right whale calves?
Newborn North Atlantic right whale calves are about 13 to 15 feet long and weigh about 2,000 pounds. As adults, they grow to 45 to 55 feet long and can weigh up to 70 tons.
How do we keep track of each individual North Atlantic right whale?
Individual whales are easily identified by callosities, which are raised patches of white roughened skin on their heads, and other distinct scars. North Atlantic right whales are the only whale species that has callosities. Each individual has a distinct pattern of callosities. Callosities appear white because these whales have cyamids, commonly known as whale lice, which are a type of skeleton shrimp parasite.
How do North Atlantic right whales socialize?
Right whales can be observed actively socializing at the ocean’s surface. Whales doing so are known as surface-active groups (SAGs). Their mating occurs in these SAGs. They communicate with each other using low-frequency groans and pulses, which is why ocean noise pollution has such a negative impact on whales.
How do mother and calf North Atlantic right whales interact and bond?
Just like many other mammals, right whale mothers and their calves show strong attachments to each other. A calf often shows affection by swimming on its mother’s back. They also butt heads, and a mother may roll over to swim upside down and hold her calf with her flippers. Young whales need to stay with their mother for eight to 17 months and cannot survive on their own at this age.
Despite living in the ocean, whales are mammals and need to drink milk as babies. Some whale species drink more than 150 gallons of milk per day and gain 100 pounds per day in their first few months, consuming 2% to 10% of their body weight in milk every day. Once they’re old enough, North Atlantic right whales feed on copepods (tiny crustaceans) and zooplankton by taking in water and filtering it through their baleen plates.
As you might imagine, drinking milk underwater is a challenging feat. Whales don’t have lips, so the calves can’t suckle like other mammals—instead, they get into position beneath their mothers, who then eject a pressured stream into their mouths.
Right whale mother and calf pairs are especially hard to find because they tend to ‘whisper’ to their calves instead of producing easily recognizable up calls, which can make it harder to acoustically detect them. This is why ‘real-time’ detections cannot be relied upon and why more protections are needed.
Generally, when baby whales are born, they are delivered tail first to prevent drowning, but in some situations, they are born headfirst.
Fittingly, since baby whales are called calves, adult female whales are called cows, and adult male whales are called bulls.
How do researchers monitor North Atlantic right whales?
Researchers track and monitor North Atlantic right whales because their populations are so low and threatened by human activity. Scientists observe them from the air, shore, underwater, or on a boat.
In NOAA’s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, an acoustic monitoring network of buoys and gliders equipped with hydrophones helps scientists detect North Atlantic right whales in the Boston Channel. These acoustic data are uploaded to WhaleAlert, a mobile app developed by IFAW, Stellwagen Bank, and Conserve.IO designed to report whale sightings and reduce the risk of vessel strikes.
Today, mariners can also be alerted using automatic identification system (AIS) technology being deployed throughout North Atlantic right whale habitats. Integrated into many GPS systems, AIS delivers safety and navigation messages to all vessels 65 feet and longer, as well as many smaller vessels voluntarily equipped with the technology.
Scientists at IFAW and Stellwagen Bank are looking towards right whale prey to learn more about aggregations of whales. When right whales feed on tiny crustaceans called copepods, they trigger the release of a compound called dimethyl sulfide (DMS) into the water. By analyzing DMS, researchers hope to uncover links to right whale distribution—insights that could support the development of a predictive tool to help implement protective measures before whales arrive in a given area.
Monitoring North Atlantic right whales is no easy task, but through a combination of research, innovation, and observation techniques, we’re gaining critical insights into their migratory patterns—insights that help us better address the risks facing this endangered species.
Can I see North Atlantic right whales?
Whale watching is a great economic alternative to whaling. As long as it is done correctly, it does not endanger North Atlantic right whales. IFAW has worked with communities to develop safe, sustainable whale watching practices, in which the operators and their customers take responsibility and implement measures to protect whales and the ocean.
To protect right whales against vessel strikes, please consider signing our petition urging Congress to support “slow zones” for boats.
Another great way to start these conversations is by sporting IFAW’s new North Atlantic right whale merchandise, showing your passion for conservation while supporting our work.