Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
ASUS Vivobook Go 14 L410 Ultra Thin Laptop Buy Now
NELEUS Women's Running Shorts Buy Now
Silk Satin Floral Shirt Buy Now
CRZ Yoga Butterluxe Leggings Buy Now
VIZIO 40-inch D-Series Full HD 1080p Smart TV Buy Now
Satin Silk Pajama Set for Women Buy Now
Pioneer Men's Slim Fit Cardigan Sweater Buy Now
Men's Flat Front Trousers Buy Now
Regular Fit Jeans Buy Now
Mens Golf Pants Buy Now
Ribbed Turtleneck Fitted Long Sleeve Tops Buy Now
HP Newest Flagship 15.6 HD Pavilion Laptop Buy Now
Classic Fit Signature Lux Cotton Stretch Pants Buy Now
Calvin Klein Hadley Crossbody Buy Now
Roswear Women's Bermuda Shorts Buy Now
Men's Knit Cardigan Buy Now
Men's Polo Shirts Buy Now
Essentials Men's Slim Jeans Buy Now
Anne Klein Leather Watch Buy Now
Y2K Striped Oversized Tee Buy Now
ASUS Vivobook Go 14 L410 Ultra Thin Laptop Buy Now
NELEUS Women's Running Shorts Buy Now
Silk Satin Floral Shirt Buy Now
CRZ Yoga Butterluxe Leggings Buy Now
VIZIO 40-inch D-Series Full HD 1080p Smart TV Buy Now
Satin Silk Pajama Set for Women Buy Now
Pioneer Men's Slim Fit Cardigan Sweater Buy Now
Men's Flat Front Trousers Buy Now
Regular Fit Jeans Buy Now
Mens Golf Pants Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
Meet Freckles, the endangered right whale spotted in Conception Bay South

Meet Freckles, the endangered right whale spotted in Conception Bay South

CBC
Saturday, November 4, 2023 7:45 AM GMT

DFO is warning mariners about an endangered right whale spotted in Conception Bay — which, according to whale researcher Jack Lawson, is the first sighting of its kind in the area.

The whale was first spotted near the marina in Long Pond on Wednesday by an onlooker who snapped pictures of the animal with their phone. The photos were sent to Lawson, who was able to confirm it was a right whale. 

But Lawson went further than that. He sent the pictures to Boston's New England Aquarium, which was able to identify the whale as Freckles, a 10-year-old female first spotted off the coast of Georgia in 2013.

"No two whales are the same," Lawson said, explaining they have unique white spots around their faces called callosities. "You have to be fairly close to get a picture that's good enough to identify them."

There are only 356 right whales in the world. That number went up slightly from 340 after the stock was reassessed last year. The animals are native to the east coast of the United States but have been moving further north in recent years, chasing copepods — small crustaceans found in cold water.

"As water gets warmer, the copepods, they prefer to head north where the water gets cooler," Lawson explained. "And we're north."

Spottings are becoming more common off the north coast of Newfoundland, but still number one to three each year. Lawson said he went through records of sightings and confirmed there's never been one in Conception Bay — until now.

"As a scientist, it's exciting to see this animal because she's just becoming an adult now so she could start having a calf any time so it's exciting for the population," he said. "But it's a bit terrifying because we know there's lots of vessel activity in the area where she is feeding."

Lawson said herring seines in the area could pose a risk, as could the Bell Island ferry service, which makes multiple trips across Conception Bay each day.

"All these things are risks to right whales, and we know they tend to blunder in front of vessels at times and they're oblivious when feeding so they can be struck by a vessel. So it's kind of a gift you want to see, but at the same time I really wish she was offshore somewhere else."

For now, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has only issued a warning to mariners. Lawson said it's unlikely the lone whale's presence will result in fisheries shutdowns or any other disruptions.

Lawson credits the person who took the picture with making them aware of the whale, and urged others to do the same if they see a whale in the region.

"If it wasn't for this person taking pictures, we wouldn't know."

Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Jasper to commemorate 1 year since wildfire decimated townsite

Nancy Addison is still waiting for a house to come home to, one year after a wildfire raged through Jasper, Alta.

How app upgrades are helping Toronto police do more bail compliance checks

There's an app for that — even to help monitor people on bail in Ontario.

Fire at Wellington waste facility extinguished before it could worsen

A fire at a waste facility in Wellington, P.E.I., on Saturday could have been much worse than it turned out to be.

Albertans drinking way less booze than they used to, lead the country in cannabis sales

It's been well documented by now that Canadians are drinking less than they used to, but no other province has seen a greater reduction than Alberta.

Premiers, prime minister to meet ahead of U.S.-Canada trade deadline

Canada's premiers are kicking off a three-day summit in Ontario's cottage country at a time of heightened anxiety over tariffs and trade with Canada's closest trading partner, the United States. 

U.S. commerce secretary dismisses question that free trade with Canada is dead

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is dismissing the question of whether U.S. free trade with Canada is dead, calling the notion "silly" and saying a substantial amount of Canadian goods enter the U.S. tariff-free under the current North American free trade deal.

This grizzly followed a Calgary couple along a popular trail until they finally roared at it

Howard Mah and Lori Arnason had never seen a wild grizzly until Saturday.

Canadian girl, 9, reported missing by father found dead in N.Y., state police say

Police in New York state say they have found a nine-year-old Canadian girl who was reported missing in northeastern New York dead. 

Teen, 14, arrested in fatal stabbing of woman in North York parking lot: police

A 14-year-old has been arrested in the fatal stabbing of a woman in a North York parking lot last Thursday, Toronto police say. 

Following in his dad's footsteps, Kamloops baseball player selected in MLB draft

It's been a big week for Tyrelle Chadwick. 

This Tlingit artist has taught 2,000 people to make bentwood boxes. She plans to keep going

Joanne Williams estimates she's taught 2,000 people how to make bentwood boxes.

Family of Montreal woman detained by ICE for over 3 months living a 'nightmare'

Paula Callejas, a Montreal native, was trying to expand her swimsuit business in Florida after taking time off to take care of her ailing father in Canada before his death.

Cars keep getting more expensive but Albertans are still buying plenty — before tariffs really bite

Across Alberta, more people are buying new vehicles even as prices have been shooting up.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
New Metrolinx CEO eligible for potential 6-figure bonus

Metrolinx's new CEO will make less than his controversial predecessor, but could be eligible for an annual performance bonus of more than six figures.

Permit revoked for MAGA musician's concert at Parks Canada historic site

Parks Canada says a U.S. singer and rising star in the MAGA movement will not perform at a national historic site near Halifax after the federal agency revoked the organizer's permit.

Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got'įnę celebrates self-government agreement with events this week in Norman Wells, N.W.T.

The Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got'įnę in Norman Wells, N.W.T., is this week celebrating the ratification of a self-government agreement, with music, games and community gatherings.

Why Danielle Smith has eased off the 'Kill Bill C-69' language in the Carney era

Premier Danielle Smith wasn't doing anything politically revolutionary when she demanded the repeal of Ottawa's environmental assessments act during the federal election campaign. Then she demanded it again, many times, when the Conservatives who promised to do so lost and the Mark Carney Liberals won.

Hoping to book an affordable Canadian vacation this summer? Sorry and good luck

Whether you're camping under the stars, jumping off the dock at a lakeside cottage, strolling the coast or exploring a new city, there's arguably nothing better than a summer vacation in Canada.

Changes coming to the way IWMC manages western P.E.I. landfill following fire

P.E.I.'s Island Waste Management Corporation is making some changes to how it manages its Wellington landfill.

Toronto musicians pay tribute to Black Sabbath frontman and 'lord of metal' Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne, legendary frontman of the rock band Black Sabbath, "opened doors" for people who wanted to play heavy metal, Toronto musicians said following news of his death.

Ford praises Carney after late-night fireside chats at Muskoka cottage

It may not be the sunny ways government, but some premiers certainly seem to be feeling sunny about the future.

'Devon has a firearm': Woman's statement for restraining order details fear of ex, now accused of her murder

The ex-boyfriend of a Calgary woman fatally shot in a parking garage over the weekend has been charged with her murder, 53 days after the victim told a judge that she lived in fear after months of being stalked and harassed.

Carney to visit his hometown of Fort Smith, N.W.T., on Wednesday

Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit his hometown of Fort Smith, N.W.T., on Wednesday — his first official visit to the territory since he was elected.

Ottawa's major projects law won't affect the N.W.T. much, premier says

N.W.T. Premier R.J. Simpson says he expects Bill C-5, passed into law last month as the federal Building Canada Act, to have a limited effect in the territory.

Republican senator says Trump's 51st state rhetoric not 'constructive' during Ottawa visit

A U.S. Republican senator says she doesn't think President Donald Trump's past comments about making Canada the 51st state are helpful as the two countries are locked in negotiations to reach some sort of trade agreement.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us