They belong to the cetacean family which includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. They are calm and solitary in nature and, in normal circumstances, non-aggressive towards humans.

Right whales have distinctive white markings on their heads which are unique to each whale – similar to fingerprints in humans.  They don’t have any teeth – instead they have large baleen plates that filter food out of the water. Despite their significant size, they feed off some of the smallest animals on earth – microscopic zooplankton, krill and small fish.

Right whales were one of the first species to be hunted by whalers. Their slow movement and docile nature made them ideal targets for exploitation. Tragically, they were hunted to the brink of extinction. Although they no longer face pressure from commercial whaling, they are still under threat due to climate change, pollution and increased maritime activities and noise.