Scientists from the University of Auckland have discovered a hidden feeding ground for New Zealand’s southern right whales, also known as tohorā.
The whales were tracked by satellite, and researchers found that most of them traveled to an ocean area about 500 kilometres south of Australia between October and January. The study shows this spot is very important for whales and other animals, and scientists now want it protected.
The feeding zone is huge. It stretches about 2,000 kilometres east to west and 1,000 kilometres north to south. It sits near the Subtropical Front, a place where warm and cool waters meet. This mix of waters provides plenty of food for whales, seabirds, sharks, and seals.
Southern right whales were once almost wiped out by whaling, with only about 400 left in the early 1900s. Today, thanks to protection, their numbers have grown to around 15,000 worldwide. Even so, experts say their feeding grounds must be kept safe, especially as oceans change with climate shifts.
Scientists hope the area will be safeguarded under the High Seas Treaty, an international agreement that would limit fishing and other activities in special ocean zones. So far, 139 countries have signed the treaty, but only 52 of the 60 needed have ratified it. New Zealand has not yet done so.
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