watch rare footage of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales

Few people get the opportunity to see a North Atlantic right whale in person. These elusive whales spend most of their time out of sight, below the surface, rarely breaching. They live largely hidden from humans.

Now, a new documentary called Last of the Right Whales features spectacularly vivid and rare footage of right whales, both below and above the water’s surface, during their epic annual migration. The film, which will make its debut on CBC’s The Nature of Things on January 6 at 9 p.m. EST, also spotlights marine biologists, rescuers (including Dr. Sarah Sharp, IFAW’s animal rescue veterinarian) and fishers who are shaping the right whale’s future.

As it stands, North Atlantic right whales are dying far more quickly than they’re reproducing. Their already-perilously small population—now down to 340 individuals, according to a recent count—is crashing as a result. These massive creatures face deadly obstacles as they move through their environments; the slow-moving whales risk being struck by vessels or entangled in commercial fishing gear. Many die from complications related to fractures and lacerations or exhaustion and starvation. Chronic entanglements also stunt right whales’ growth, increase the interval between births and jeopardize the survival of calves. These threats could easily kill off the last remaining members of the species in the next two decades.

Despite the bleak situation, the new film conveys a message of hope about the planet’s most endangered great whale. With swift and substantial action, it’s still possible save the species from extinction.

A key partner in the advocacy campaign supporting the documentary, IFAW is on a mission to ensure the survival of North Atlantic right whales into the future. We work with the fishing industry in Canada and the United States to eliminate the ropes and fishing gear in the ocean that frequently ensnare right whales. To protect right whales from colliding with vessels, we engage with shipping organizations to regulate ship speeds. Our rescue team is ready to respond to injured or sick right whales at a moment’s notice. And our citizen science app enables users to document whale sightings, alerting mariners to exercise caution and helping us establish speed zones.