After commercial whaling stopped, populations recovered, but now global warming is threatening the animals
New research in SA that southern right whales off its coast are getting thinner, having fewer calves and leaving these breeding grounds sooner provides further evidence for research conducted in the Americas that climate change shifts in the Southern Ocean could cause population decline.
Dr Els Vermeulen, research manager at the University of Pretoria’s whale unit , said: “Southern right whales are a sentinel species and, if climate change is affecting them, it is undoubtedly affecting other smaller species. They are an iconic animal and important to our country.”..A subscription gives you full digital access to all Sunday Times content.Registered on the BusinessLIVE, Business Day or Financial Mail websites? Sign in with the same details.