Southern right whales awe admirers after coming back from brink of extinction

PENÍNSULA VALDÉS, Argentina — PENÍNSULA VALDÉS, Argentina (AP) — Southern right whales have made a remarkable recovery from the brink of extinction, with their numbers increasing off the coast of Patagonia in Argentina this year, much to the delight of tourists eager to witness their playful antics.

Peninsula Valdés, situated in Chubut province in Patagonia, is a vital area for the preservation of marine mammals and is home to a significant breeding population of Southern right whales, as well as elephant seals and sea lions.

German tourist Tino Ventz, who recently visited the peninsula with his girlfriend, described the experience of seeing the whales as the best he has ever had, with a large number of whales visible in the area.

Once on the verge of extinction due to hunting, the Southern right whale population in the southern waters has rebounded from around 600 to approximately 4,700 whales in the Peninsula Valdés region today.

The whale-watching season in Argentina peaks between August and September, with over 2,000 whales spotted this year. However, scientists believe the actual number is even higher.

Tourists like Ventz and others have had the opportunity to witness the whales either from boats or from the shore, experiencing the awe-inspiring breaching displays of these majestic creatures.

The growing whale population is leading to their dispersal to other areas, presenting new challenges such as risks from human activities like fishing nets and boat propellers.

____

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america