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SC/69B/CMP/10
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Resource ID
22053
Access
Open
Document Number
SC/69B/CMP/10
Full Title
Southern right whales in the Central and Southeast Pacific (Chile-Peru Population): sightings, body condition and mtDNA haplotypes of mother-calf pairs
Author
Ana M. Garc¡a-Cegarra, Fredrik Christiansen, Alexandre N. Zerbini, Alice Forrest And Kate Sprogis
Authors Summary
This document presents new information on the occurrence of mother-calf southern right whales in the central South Pacific Ocean and the coast of Chile and Peru. Sightings of mother calf-pairs resulted in new data on body condition and genetics of this population. Photogrametry data suggests that body condition of two whales were consistent with those from healthy and increasing populations in Argentina and Australia. Mitochondrial DNA haplotyoes from two individuals were the same as haplotypes found in whales from Argentina. This study highlights that opportunistic sightings of these rare whales are important to better understand the status of the critically endangered Chile-Peru population.
Publisher
IWC
Publication Year
2024
Abstract
The critically endangered subpopulation of southern right whalesÿ(SRWs;ÿEubalaena australis)ÿin theÿsoutheastPacific Ocean (Chile-Peru) is poorly studied due to its lowÿabundance.ÿIn the last five yearsÿthe number ofsightings of mother-calf pairs along the Chilean coastÿincreased, however, it is not clear if this increase represents population growth.ÿHere, we examine the body condition of twoÿSRWs sightedÿinÿnorthern Chile, one inÿTocopilla (~22§S) in 2023 andÿthe otherÿin Antofagasta (~23§S) in 2019.We also examined mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotype diversity of theÿmotherÿsighted off Tocopilla andÿanother mother observed in northern Peruÿinÿ2022. Additionally,ÿwe provideÿa newÿsighting ofÿaÿSRW mother-calf pairÿoffÿPitcairn Islands (~25§S) inÿ2023.ÿResults show that the Chilean mothers are in similar body conditionÿtoÿthose fromÿthe healthy and recoveringpopulations fromÿArgentina and Australia.ÿMtDNA haplotypesÿfromÿChilean and Peruvian mothers wereÿthe sameasÿthe haplotypesÿdocumented in ArgentinianÿSRWs.ÿAll opportunistic data obtained from SRWs in the Central and Southeast Pacific are important to help better understand the status of the critically endangered Chile-Peru population.