Southern right whales awe admirers in Patagonia after coming back from brink of extinction

Southern right whales are swimming in greater numbers off the coast of Argentina’s Patagonia this year. The whales have come back from the brink of extinction. They’re delighting tourists seeking to catch a glimpse of their acrobatics. The whales’ population in southern waters was estimated at around 100,000 before large-scale whaling began. The numbers were later decimated to about 600. The population has slowly recovered since then to roughly 4,700 whales around Peninsula Valdés. Whale-watching season in the south American country peaks between August and September. More than 2,000 whales have been spotted this year. But scientists say the actual number is likely higher.