Occurrence of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) along southeastern Brazil

Abstract

This paper reports on the occurrence of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) in southeastern Brazilian waters (18°S-25°S), withevidence of their use of the region as an important calving area. Only in recent years have right whale sightings and strandings been reportedregularly within the surveyed area. Of 71 distinct sightings reported since 1936, 39 (54.9%) were mother-calf pairs observed close to theshore. Most of these sightings (91.5%) were reported from early July to late October. Eight confirmed strandings of this species wereobserved within the surveyed area, six of which were between July and October. Stranded calves represented 62.5% of these records. Twocalves showed evidence of incidental capture. The increasing number of sightings, and recent reports of stranded calves and one adultfemale could be indicative of an increase in cetacean research efforts in the region. However, it also suggests use of the southeasternBrazilian coast as an important right whale calving area.