Scientists studying southern right whales can always count on a front-row seat at Argentina’s Península Valdéz, which overlooks the aquatic breeding ground southern rights visit year after year. But learning about the whale’s life in the open ocean is another matter. In fact, much of today’s knowledge of the southern right’s migration, calving and feeding has been handed down by hunters who nearly drove the animals to extinction before international protection efforts got underway in 1935. Now, however, Argentina is attempting to learn more about the whale—and perhaps find ways to further safeguard it—by sponsoring an 18-month whale-tracking project. Scientists here plan to attach transmitters to southern right whales and follow their movements using a satellite that NASA, the U.S... [Log in to read more]