An unusual die-off of southern right whales in Argentine Patagonia alarms scientists

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Scientists monitoring southern right whales at Península Valdés in Argentina report an unusually high number of calf and adult deaths since July. They are investigating a bacterium and a toxic red-tide algal bloom as possible causes, and warn this could become the worst year on record.

Scientists monitoring the southern right whale population at Península Valdés, in Argentina’s Chubut province, have recorded since July an unusual number of deaths among calves and adults which, they expect, could make this the worst year on record. They are investigating the role of a bacterium and of a toxic algal bloom known as “red tide”.