Chubut aerial whale census records 1,375 Southern right whales

The first aerial census of the 2026 season recorded 1,375 Southern right whales along the coast of Chubut, Argentina. Of these, 409 were identified as calves. The survey was conducted on September 6 along the Península Valdés coastline by researchers from the Marine Mammal Laboratory (LAMAMA) of CESIMAR-CONICET.

The highest concentrations of whales were found in El Doradillo, near Puerto Pirámides, and in San José Gulf. Researchers also noted two groups of dark dolphins in the El Doradillo area.

While the current count is lower than the record of 2,110 whales recorded in 2025, scientists from LAMAMA stated that the figure remains within expected values. They noted that such fluctuations are natural for large cetacean populations and should not be viewed in isolation.