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Southern Right Whales Hit Record 2,110 at Península Valdés

Tourism funding sustains the census, guiding conservation as well as visitor management.

Overview

  • Aerial counts confirmed 2,110 whales in the 2025 census, including 82 calves, the highest total recorded for the site.
  • Researchers attribute the milestone to decades of recovery since the 1970s protections, with growth rapid in the 2000s and slower yet steady in the 2010s.
  • Expanding presence now includes sightings in areas such as Necochea, Mar del Plata and the coast of Uruguay, reflecting a broader regional range.
  • The whale‑watching season runs May to December with a peak in August–September, and local operators finance annual surveys used to plan tours.
  • Specialists warn of persistent risks from vessel strikes, underwater noise, entanglement in fishing gear and climate impacts on feeding grounds.