Endangered North Atlantic right whales begin return to Georgia's coast

A North Atlantic right whale is visible from above
A whale nicknamed 'Black Heart' was the first sighted in the Southern U.S. for the 2024-25 calving season. The female, around 19 years old, was spotted off the North Carolina coast in November. (Courtesy of Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, taken under NOAA permit #26919. Funded by United States Army Corps of Engineers.)

This coverage is made possible through a partnership between WABE and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization.

Update: This story was updated on Monday, Dec. 2 at 10:58 a.m.

The first North Atlantic right whale calf of the season has been spotted by a boater off South Carolina. Scientists are also tracking several adult whales who may give birth in the coming weeks.