Reflecting the cooperation between different research groups, and in order to standardize methodologies, after a lot of effort and several years of work, we have managed to do the first aerial census that aimed to classified and photograph specimens of Southern Right whale of San Jorge Gulf, Santa Cruz, Argentina.

As result of this aerial census, conducted in August 2007 with the support of the Prefectura Naval Argentina (Argentine Coast Guard), we recorded 9 individuals of the species and, thanks to joint work with Dr Victoria Rowntree (IWC / ICB) and Dr. Karina Groch (Projeto Baleia Franca - Brazil) we were able to identify the first 3 specimens from the San Jorge Gulf!

The next step will be compare the images obtained during this aerial census with those taken in other areas of Latin America, where the species is seen, to see if these specimens had been observed previously.

Although Argentina is known for the Right whale visits to the shores of Peninsula Valdes, Chubut, for several years Fundación Cethus has been working in the area of the San Jorge Gulf, about 500km south of the peninsula, where for many years now, the growing presence of specimens of this species is recorded. For the foregoing, the identification of these three individuals is of great importance not only for us but for many researchers related with the species, and it confirms or generates new questions to be answered. Through this brief note we would like to thank all of those who, in one way or another, are involved in this project, particularly International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) which is supporting it for many years now and, in this case, has allowed the participation of Jimena Belgrano in the IWC Scientific Committee.

Photography: Sergio Massaro, for Fundación Cethus.