Two endangered North Atlantic right whales and a calf have been spotted off the coasts of Fort Myers Beach and Marco Island.
The whales, identified as Koala and Curlew, were first spotted near Fort Myers Beach on Wednesday, according to charter captains and fishermen who captured video of the event. These whales are part of a critically endangered species with only about 370 individuals remaining worldwide, including just 70 fertile females, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
“I’m driving in like normal, just like always. And I look off to the left side, and I see something in the distance ... So I pop up binoculars, and as soon as I pull them up, I see a blowhole shoot up in the air, and I’m like, that’s a whale," said Captain Ryan Goebel, with Sea Trek Charters.
Right whales can grow over 50 feet long and weigh more than 100,000 pounds. Their distinct black and off-white pattern, along with rough skin patches called callosities, help researchers identify individuals. These whales maintain a low profile and are at high risk for vessel strikes, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission (FWC).
“When you first see it, it was just so big, like, as big as this boat. It was huge ... Everybody was screaming and hollering and jumping around, pushing everybody out of the way to try to get pictures. It was wild," said Chris Paul, a mate for Sea Trek Charters.
Following the sighting on Fort Myers Beach (approximately 6 miles offshore), a fisherman reported seeing the two endangered whales Thursday afternoon near Caxambas Pass.
“I saw this black figure basically floating, and I thought it might be something like a sunken boat or something like that ... I ease over there, and it’s these two monster whales," said Tony Pruitt, a fisherman.
While right whales are typically found along the East Coast of the U.S., seeing them in the Gulf is extremely rare. NOAA and FWC continue to monitor their movements and urge boaters to be cautious to avoid disturbing them.
If you spot a North Atlantic right whale, report the sighting to NOAA’s hotline at 1-877-WHALE-HELP.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest breaking news and weather alerts.