Every year, some North Atlantic right whales make a harrowing journey going from the feeding grounds in the chilly waters around New England and Canada to the warmer waters down south near the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida where they give birth and nurse their young. This migration is not without challenges — the whales must avoid a jungle of roughly one million fishing lines along with vessel traffic. With only around 380 North Atlantic right whales remaining, each and every calf represents hope for the recovery of this critically endangered species.
INTRODUCING THE RIGHT WHALE MOMS OF THE 2025/2026 SEASON
CHAMPAGNE (#3904)
North Atlantic right whale “Champagne” welcomed the first calf of the season. At 17 years old, this is her second known calf. Champagne’s first, Wall-E (#5104), was born in 2021. Champagne’s journey to the southeast is her second migration in two years, an unusual migration to make two years in a row.
Champagne earned her name from the cluster of white circles on her head that look just like little bubbles — perfect for a celebratory moment like this one!
MILLIPEDE (#3520)
“Millipede” welcomed the second calf of the season! At 21 years old, this is her 3rd calf. Millipede is the one of the most resilient mothers in the population — she survived a vessel strike at a young age that left a series of millipede-like scars along her body.
CALLOSITY BACK (#3760)
“Callosity Back” welcomed her 1st documented newborn at 18 years old. Callosity Back is one of the only known North Atlantic right whales with callosities (rough patches of skin) on her back, which is how she got her name.
First time moms are always very exciting to see with only about 70 reproductively active females in the population! However, she is older than typical to become a first-time mom — a trend we have observed in recent years in the population due to anthropogenic stress.
BOCCE (#3860)
“Bocce”, the 18-year-old North Atlantic right whale and sister of “Millipede” welcomes her 3rd documented calf. She last had a calf in 2021, and prior to that was part of a three-way calf swap in 2016 with two other mothers. Researchers believe Bocce’s 2016 calf died immediately but she was able to nurse another whale’s calf because of that pregnancy!
SQUILLA (#3720)
“Squilla”, 19, welcomes her 2nd known calf in a raw display of hope and resilience. In 2024, she tragically lost her first calf after it spent two years entangled in fishing gear — marking the first confirmed mortality traced back to marked fishing gear.
CASCADE (#3157)
“Cascade”, 25, welcomed her 4th known calf this season. The pair was sighted east of Ossabaw Island, GA. Cascade is named for the waterfall-like scars cascading down the side of her mouth.
HARMONIA (#3101)
Harmonia (#3101), 25, was spotted with her 4th known calf . When Harmonia was a calf, she stayed with her mom Aphrodite for two years instead of the usual one.
TRIPELAGO (#2614)
Tripelago, 30, was sighted with her 6th calf east of Ossabaw Island, GA. She’s also been resighted by research teams every year of life, except one!
ECHO (#2642)
“Echo” was seen with her 4th known calf on December 21st. Echo has a white chin, which is an uncommon trait she has passed on to her new calf! Researchers have seen all three of her previous calves this year, so there is hope that the survival success rate carries on!
UCA (#3390)
Uca, estimated to be around 23, and her second documented calf were spotted east of Saint Phillips Island, South Carolina. She’s a five-time entanglement survivor, which could explain the long intervals between calves with her first documented calf being born 14 years ago! Uca is named after the latin name for the fiddler crab — her callosities look like their asymmetrical claws!
BERMUDA (#3780)
Bermuda — just named this year — was spotted with her latest calf off Amelia Island, Florida. She previously calved in the 2023-2024 season but her 2024 calf was reported missing and presumed dead a week after first being seen.
MANTIS (#1620)
Mantis is not only a mother this season, but also a grandmother! She is Squilla’s mom. Did you know that Squilla is the latin name for the Mantis Shrimp?
JUNO (#1612)
Juno, estimated to be over 40 years old, welcomed her 9th known calf! Many might recall her previous calf was the first of the 2023-2024 season. However, she tragically lost that calf to a vessel strike shortly after its birth, making this calf even more special as it represents new hope for Juno.
BINARY (#3010)
Binary, 26, welcomes her 4th known calf! Binary is an entanglement survivor — in 2011, she was entangled in fishing gear while her calf was by her side. Luckily, she somehow managed to free herself and continuing nursing and caring for her precious calf.
BOOMERANG (#2503)
Boomerang, 31, welcomes her fifth known calf! She is part of a big documented North Atlantic right whale family, with her Aunt Echo also being a mom this season! Boomerang is also one of the handful of right whales known for traveling into the Gulf — in fact, she took her 2006 calf (now named Lone Star #3620) around the southern tip of Florida into the Gulf, all the way to Corpus Christi, Texas, before migrating back together to the summer feeding grounds.
SKITTLE (#3260)
Skittle, a four-time entanglement survivor, welcomes her third known calf. Interestingly, Skittle is the third mom this season who lost a calf in 2024 and presumably was able to breed right after losing her last calf which resulted in a shorter two-year calving interval instead of the typical three-year interval. Not only did Skittle lose her calf in 2024, but her first calf in 2010 (#4096) also disappeared on the calving grounds and is presumed dead, making this calf particularly important in proving Skittle can produce healthy offspring and nurse them successfully.
(#3593)
North Atlantic right whale catalog #3593, estimated 21, welcomes her second known calf! Right whale #3593 is very mysterious and since her first sighting 21 years ago she’s only been seen NINE times total! She’s never been sighted in Cape Cod Bay, Bay of Fundy, or Gulf of St. Lawrence. Whatever she’s doing is working, and we hope she continues to stay safe in whatever secret habitat she might be using!
(#4610)
North Atlantic right whale catalog #4610, is the second first-time mom this season (following Callosity Back), and the youngest first-time mom at 10 years old! Researchers believe that 10 is a normal healthy age for female right whales to begin calving even though in recent years we’ve seen NARW start calving closer to 20 years old.
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Calves of the Atlantic: Right Whale Watch
INTRODUCING THE RIGHT WHALE MOMS OF THE 2025/2026 SEASON
CHAMPAGNE (#3904)
North Atlantic right whale “Champagne” welcomed the first calf of the season. At 17 years old, this is her second known calf. Champagne’s first, Wall-E (#5104), was born in 2021. Champagne’s journey to the southeast is her second migration in two years, an unusual migration to make two years in a row.
Champagne earned her name from the cluster of white circles on her head that look just like little bubbles — perfect for a celebratory moment like this one!
MILLIPEDE (#3520)
“Millipede” welcomed the second calf of the season! At 21 years old, this is her 3rd calf. Millipede is the one of the most resilient mothers in the population — she survived a vessel strike at a young age that left a series of millipede-like scars along her body.
CALLOSITY BACK (#3760)
“Callosity Back” welcomed her 1st documented newborn at 18 years old. Callosity Back is one of the only known North Atlantic right whales with callosities (rough patches of skin) on her back, which is how she got her name.
First time moms are always very exciting to see with only about 70 reproductively active females in the population! However, she is older than typical to become a first-time mom — a trend we have observed in recent years in the population due to anthropogenic stress.
BOCCE (#3860)
“Bocce”, the 18-year-old North Atlantic right whale and sister of “Millipede” welcomes her 3rd documented calf. She last had a calf in 2021, and prior to that was part of a three-way calf swap in 2016 with two other mothers. Researchers believe Bocce’s 2016 calf died immediately but she was able to nurse another whale’s calf because of that pregnancy!
SQUILLA (#3720)
“Squilla”, 19, welcomes her 2nd known calf in a raw display of hope and resilience. In 2024, she tragically lost her first calf after it spent two years entangled in fishing gear — marking the first confirmed mortality traced back to marked fishing gear.
CASCADE (#3157)
“Cascade”, 25, welcomed her 4th known calf this season. The pair was sighted east of Ossabaw Island, GA. Cascade is named for the waterfall-like scars cascading down the side of her mouth.
HARMONIA (#3101)
Harmonia (#3101), 25, was spotted with her 4th known calf . When Harmonia was a calf, she stayed with her mom Aphrodite for two years instead of the usual one.
TRIPELAGO (#2614)
Tripelago, 30, was sighted with her 6th calf east of Ossabaw Island, GA. She’s also been resighted by research teams every year of life, except one!
ECHO (#2642)
“Echo” was seen with her 4th known calf on December 21st. Echo has a white chin, which is an uncommon trait she has passed on to her new calf! Researchers have seen all three of her previous calves this year, so there is hope that the survival success rate carries on!
UCA (#3390)
Uca, estimated to be around 23, and her second documented calf were spotted east of Saint Phillips Island, South Carolina. She’s a five-time entanglement survivor, which could explain the long intervals between calves with her first documented calf being born 14 years ago! Uca is named after the latin name for the fiddler crab — her callosities look like their asymmetrical claws!
BERMUDA (#3780)
Bermuda — just named this year — was spotted with her latest calf off Amelia Island, Florida. She previously calved in the 2023-2024 season but her 2024 calf was reported missing and presumed dead a week after first being seen.
MANTIS (#1620)
Mantis is not only a mother this season, but also a grandmother! She is Squilla’s mom. Did you know that Squilla is the latin name for the Mantis Shrimp?
JUNO (#1612)
Juno, estimated to be over 40 years old, welcomed her 9th known calf! Many might recall her previous calf was the first of the 2023-2024 season. However, she tragically lost that calf to a vessel strike shortly after its birth, making this calf even more special as it represents new hope for Juno.
BINARY (#3010)
Binary, 26, welcomes her 4th known calf! Binary is an entanglement survivor — in 2011, she was entangled in fishing gear while her calf was by her side. Luckily, she somehow managed to free herself and continuing nursing and caring for her precious calf.
BOOMERANG (#2503)
Boomerang, 31, welcomes her fifth known calf! She is part of a big documented North Atlantic right whale family, with her Aunt Echo also being a mom this season! Boomerang is also one of the handful of right whales known for traveling into the Gulf — in fact, she took her 2006 calf (now named Lone Star #3620) around the southern tip of Florida into the Gulf, all the way to Corpus Christi, Texas, before migrating back together to the summer feeding grounds.
SKITTLE (#3260)
Skittle, a four-time entanglement survivor, welcomes her third known calf. Interestingly, Skittle is the third mom this season who lost a calf in 2024 and presumably was able to breed right after losing her last calf which resulted in a shorter two-year calving interval instead of the typical three-year interval. Not only did Skittle lose her calf in 2024, but her first calf in 2010 (#4096) also disappeared on the calving grounds and is presumed dead, making this calf particularly important in proving Skittle can produce healthy offspring and nurse them successfully.
(#3593)
North Atlantic right whale catalog #3593, estimated 21, welcomes her second known calf! Right whale #3593 is very mysterious and since her first sighting 21 years ago she’s only been seen NINE times total! She’s never been sighted in Cape Cod Bay, Bay of Fundy, or Gulf of St. Lawrence. Whatever she’s doing is working, and we hope she continues to stay safe in whatever secret habitat she might be using!
(#4610)
North Atlantic right whale catalog #4610, is the second first-time mom this season (following Callosity Back), and the youngest first-time mom at 10 years old! Researchers believe that 10 is a normal healthy age for female right whales to begin calving even though in recent years we’ve seen NARW start calving closer to 20 years old.
