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Endangered whale experiencing mini-baby boom off New England

In this March 28, 2018 file photo, a North Atlantic right whale feeds on the surface of Cape Cod bay off the coast of Plymouth, Mass. Interstate fishing managers are starting the process of trying to reduce the amount of lobster fishing gear off the East Coast in an attempt to help save a declining species of the rare whale.

By The Associated Press

1 minute to read

Whale researchers say an endangered species of whale is experiencing a mini-baby boom in New England waters.

The North Atlantic right whale is one of the rarest species of whale on the planet. They number only about 411.

The Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Massachusetts, said Friday its aerial survey team spotted two mom and calf pairs. The whales were seen in Cape Cod Bay on Thursday. That brings the number of calves seen in New England waters alone this year to three.

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That’s big news because the whale’s population has been falling, and no calves were seen last year.

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The whales give birth off Georgia and Florida in the winter and travel to feeding grounds off New England in the early spring.

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