Reports from the public of tohorā off the New Zealand coast are for a new study by the University of Auckland, the University of Otago and DOC to investigate the genetic makeup and track the population growth of southern right whales.
Tohorā were driven almost to extinction by whaling in the 19th and 20th centuries. By the 1920s, they had disappeared from the waters around New Zealand with just a small population of 30-40 breeding females remaining in the remote sub-Antarctic islands.
But after decades of protection, they are making a steady comeback with population growth estimated at up to 7% per year. Latest estimates put the total population at around 2000 animals which means a higher chance of spotting one and a higher chance that when whales do visit, they will stay for longer.
Sightings of tohorā begin around Matariki in June and are possible almost anywhere during the winter months from Southland to Northland.
“As the visit by the Matariki whale in Wellington showed, southern right whales are being sighted more often and that gives us the opportunity to find out much more about them,” says University of Auckland marine researcher Dr Emma Carroll.
“We are particularly interested in sightings of mother-calf pairs around mainland New Zealand because that could mean the whales are once again returning to breed here.”
Another study aim is to compare genetic data of whales seen near New Zealand to those in the subantarctic.
“Learning more about where tohorā are found near our coast will help us manage threats to the whales as they return to visit our busy shores,” says Hannah Hendriks, DOC Marine Species Support Officer.
Anyone seeing tohorā is asked to call DOC’s hotline
