With the support of Nuremberg Zoo, we are conducting a multidisciplinary study together with our partners to investigate the endocrine responses of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) to various influences, such as changes in food quality and availability, attacks and harassment by seagulls, injuries from fishing nets and collisions, and ship traffic. To do this, we measure hormones that indicate stress response (glucocorticoids) in adipose tissue biopsies and use aerial photographs taken by drones to assess physical condition and the presence of injuries and to identify the animals. By integrating these methods, we aim to understand how various human and environmental influences affect the health and well-being of whales.
The project is led by researchers from the Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas, the Marine Mammal Laboratory ofthe Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR-CONICET), and the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA-CONICET).
During the 2024 season, we have sampled more than 120 individual southern right whales, including mothers with calves, adults, and juveniles, and taken more than 6,000 aerial photographs. And this is just the beginning!
The aim of the project is to better understand the physiology of whales in order to obtain important information for the protection of these incredible marine mammals and the marine environment. We remain committed to the protection of whales, both regionally and globally!
