Rare North Pacific right whale spotted off Haida Gwaii coast

Rare North Pacific right whale spotted off Haida Gwaii coast
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A North Pacific right whale, an endangered whale species not seen in Canadian waters in the last 50 years, spotted earlier this month by Fisheries and Oceans Canada scientists off the coast of Haida Gwaii. Photo courtesy Facebook/Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

A North Pacific right whale, an endangered whale species not seen in Canadian waters in the last 50 years, spotted earlier this month by Fisheries and Oceans Canada scientists off the coast of Haida Gwaii. Photo courtesy Facebook/Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is spreading the news of a rare sighting in B.C. waters off the coast of Haida Gwaii.

In a Facebook post Tuesday morning, the ministry said its scientists spotted a North Pacific right whale earlier this month.

It is just the third sighting of the endangered species in Canadian waters since 1951.

DFO says commercial and illegal whaling activities in the last 200 years has made North Pacific right whales one of the most endangered whale species in the world.

North Pacific right whale population estimates show about 20 to 30 animals of the total population of 2,000 in the world.

On its website, the DFO says seeing a North Pacific right whale is like winning the “marine mammal lottery”.

The species has two distinct identity clues: a highly arched jaw and a series of white growths of thickened skin on its head.

Andy NealAndy Neal

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