
Being first among whales is a memorable experience. And even more when it comes to the Franco-southern right whale, the most weak among all large cetaceans.
In Atlanta there are about 350 individuals North and South in Atlanta, about 12,000, of whom one third live on the Peninsula Vaidés, Argentina.
Its quiet coves are the ideal places to see dozens of mothers with their offspring approaching boat tourists, and remain there without moving.
"The population here is growing at 7% per annum," said Mariano Sironi, biologist from the Institute of Conservation of Whales (ICB), while a large tail hit the water several times a few metres from our tiny zodiac.
The institute works in collaboration with Roger Payne, one of the most respected scholars of whales.
"Since 1970 we identified photographically by air and sea some 2,000 animals and do follow-up. Our catalog is the largest and the study is more continuity in the world. Each cetacean mind," explains Sironi.
Among the work of BCI, researchers evaluated the health status of the frank through the height of the roll of fat on his neck. He also estimated the age of juveniles across photogrammetry. His study is more detailed than exists on the behavior of juveniles and their social interactions.
Suddenly, an albino ballenato approaches the boat on the starboard side. Her mother censorship Apart from his daring us with the powerful tail. But the small ignored and resolves to dive out by port. His snout is almost pink, her skin is soft and his face is covered by the frank nature of the calluses, which also serve to identify him, according to Payne discovered. At aspire, retozón ballenato produces a noise similar to a large body.
"Now, thanks to the Programme right whale, led by Victoria Rowntree, we have accumulated information vital to science and we have also reached many people across our program of adoption of this species. In addition we are analysing the impact of diving on the behavior of these cetaceans, which is a new problem in power, "says Sironi.
Suddenly the bay full of whales jumping, applauding and water delivered to their games: his favorite sport is surfing, exposing the tail to the wind, how to sail.
When darkened accompanied us with three-dimensional sound of their breaths, augmented by the echo and a calm night without wind.