Story: Whales

Southern right whales breaching

This film shows the energetic leaping of the right whale. There are now a number of right whales at Campbell and Auckland islands, but they are rarely seen around the New Zealand mainland. In the early 19th century they were common winter visitors until commercial whalers decided their slow speed and their oil-rich blubber made them the ‘right’ whale to catch.

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How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching, 'Whales - Southern right whales', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/video/7086/southern-right-whales-breaching (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 12 Jun 2006