Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales Spotted Off Florida's Gulf Coast

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Two endangered North Atlantic right whales were spotted off Florida's Gulf Coast near Fort Myers and Marco Island in mid-March.

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The massive 40-foot female whales, named Koala and Curlew, are moving south after being seen near the Alabama-Florida border in February.

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With fewer than 400 North Atlantic right whales remaining, including only about 70 reproducing females, biologists fear the species faces extinction.

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Experts describe the Gulf of Mexico sighting as "rare but not unexpected," as these whales typically migrate to warmer Atlantic waters during calving season.

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Despite reaching sexual maturity, neither 14-year-old Curlew nor 16-year-old Koala has ever given birth, a concerning trend for the endangered population.

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Female right whales have recently shown delayed first births and longer intervals between calves, though two first-time mothers aged 18 and 20 were documented this season.

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Acid sprays from these nests help Eurasian jays eliminate parasites like mites and lice from their feathers.

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