Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale and calf spotted off Kure Beach
KURE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — The second North Atlantic Right Whale of the year has been spotted off the Cape Fear coast.
‘Skittle’ and her calf were seen on February 16th around 28 miles east of Kure Beach. Skittle was first noticed in 2002, and is estimated to be at least 22 years old. This is her second documented calf.
Her name comes from the shape of her callosity that resembles a bowling pin, or skittle, from the British sport similar to 9-pin bowling.
This comes just over a month after another North Atlantic Right Whale was documented less than two miles off Pender County.
Right Whales are endangered with only about 350 left, and 70-80 breeding females.
