About
Name: Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis)
Length: 15 metres.
Weight: 47 tonnes.
Location: Southern sub-topical to sub-Antarctic waters.
Conservation status: Least Concern.
Diet: Copepods and Krill.
Appearance: Dark grey or black, sometimes with white patches on the underside.
How do Southern Right Whales feed?
Southern Right Whales are baleen whales. Unlike other baleen whales that filter water through baleen plates, Southern Right Whales are skimmers. They swim through krill clouds with open mouths, trapping krill as they move.
Are Southern Right Whales social?
Southern Right Whales are curious and playful around humans, often interacting with boaters and kayakers. They also engage with Dolphins and Humpback Whales.
How fast do Southern Right Whales swim?
They swim slowly, averaging around 5 km per hour.
What are Southern Right Whales mating rituals like?
Females mature sexually at around 9 years and give birth every 3 to 4 years. The breeding season is from mid-July to August. Females are surrounded by males and will roll onto their backs to avoid mating until ready. Males compete for access, and the female may mate with multiple males. Pregnancy lasts over a year, and calves weigh 1,500 kg at birth.
How long do Southern Right Whales live?
They are believed to live around 50 years, though some similar species live up to 100 years.
How many Southern Right Whales are there today?
There are approximately 10,000 Southern Right Whales worldwide.
Do Southern Right Whales have any natural predators?
They are attacked by Kelp Gulls in Patagonia, which cause significant injuries. Calves are also vulnerable to Killer Whales and Great White Sharks.
7 Surprising Southern Right Whale Facts
- They lack a dorsal fin.
- Their testicles are the largest in the world, up to 500 kg each.
- They can't enter tropical waters due to their thick blubber.
- They sometimes "sail" by sticking their flukes in the air.
- They are among the rarest large whales due to whaling.
- Their calluses are used for individual identification by scientists.
- They were named "right whales" because they were the preferred target for whalers.
Best Deals
Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop
25 Dec - 06 Jan 2025$ 9.900
Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop
29 Dec - 10 Jan 2025$ 9.900
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
04 Jan - 22 Jan 20259.450
$ 3.150
Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage
06 Jan - 16 Jan 2025$ 8.650
Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop
10 Jan - 22 Jan 2025$ 9.900
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
16 Jan - 03 Feb 20259.450
$ 3.150
Related Trips
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop
25 Dec 2024 - 06 Jan 2025 
13 Days / 12 Nights
From $ 9.900 per person
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop
29 Dec 2024 - 10 Jan 2025 13 Days / 12 Nights
From $ 9.900 per person
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
04 Jan 2025 - 22 Jan 2025 19 Days / 18 Nights
From $ 9.450 per person
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage
06 Jan 2025 - 16 Jan 2025 11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 8.650 per person
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop
10 Jan 2025 - 22 Jan 2025 13 Days / 12 Nights
From $ 9.900 per person
% Save up to $ 9.050
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
16 Jan 2025 - 03 Feb 2025 19 Days / 18 Nights
From $ 9.450 per person
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage + navigational workshop
22 Jan 2025 - 01 Feb 2025 11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 8.650 per person
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage
22 Jan 2025 - 01 Feb 2025 11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 8.650 per person
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage
01 Feb 2025 - 11 Feb 2025 11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 8.650 per person
% Save up to $ 10.500
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
01 Feb 2025 - 20 Feb 2025 20 Days / 19 Nights
From $ 9.450 per person
% Save up to $ 3.800
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage
03 Feb 2025 - 13 Feb 2025 11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 6.050 per person
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop
13 Feb 2025 - 25 Feb 2025 13 Days / 12 Nights
From $ 9.900 per person
Blog
Blog
A Day of Basecamp in Antarctica – Paradise Harbour
After an early morning gathering of our camping group, we reached the entrance to Lemaire Channel. The snow and mist around the mountain peaks created a captivating atmosphere as we began our journey to Paradise Bay. The channel was dotted with impressive icebergs, and we even spotted a few sleeping humpback whales, providing ample photo opportunities.
Blog
Life in a Penguin Colony
Captain Pieter J. Lenie Base, also known as Base Copacabana or simply Copa Base, is situated on King George Island off the western shores of the Antarctic Peninsula. This American research station has been home to scientists studying Adélie, gentoo, and chinstrap penguins for over three decades, aiming to understand how to best conserve these cherished species.
Blog
Flowers in Antarctica
The polar regions are among the most inhospitable environments for plants and animals. Life here faces numerous challenges, including low temperatures, high winds, solar radiation, and cell freezing. The Antarctic continent experiences extreme conditions, with darkness during winter and continuous light during summer. Winter temperatures can drop to -60°C or lower.
Blog
Antarctic Explorer’s Voyage
There’s off the beaten track, and then there’s really off the beaten track.
Blog
A Day of Whale Watching in Antarctica
This morning we awoke early to enjoy the first light in Wilhelmina Bay, with the snow and cloud blanketing the surrounding mountains. As dawn broke, we could see the blows of humpback whales scattered throughout the bay. Some of the whales were closer to the ship and we spotted their small dorsal fins and occasionally their white patterned tails. It was a terrific start to our first full day in Antarctica.
Blog
The Emperor Penguin of the Drake Passage
There are certain moments in life when a series of events combine to create an experience that is both unexpected and unforgettable. These are the times when you are reminded how fortunate you are to be a part of something that few people will ever have the opportunity to experience. This trip to Antarctica was full of these moments for me.
Blog
Camping in Antarctica: a True Expedition Experience
We often think of camping as a summer activity, filled with warm nights, campfire dinners, and serene mountain lakes. However, there's a whole other world of camping to explore.
Blog
Living the Antarctic Dream
From October to March, during the Austral summer, thousands of breeding gentoo, Adèlie, and chinstrap penguins flock to the Western Antarctic Peninsula to rear their chicks and feast on krill before the harsh winter arrives. Alongside the penguins, field biologists from around the world gather to study these habits for conservation research. Observing these animals is one thing, but residing in an Antarctic field station for an entire breeding season is another. One particular field camp on King George Island, managed by American scientists, has perfected this Antarctic lifestyle and has thrived for over 30 years.
Blog
The Giant Petrels of King George Island
Antarctica is undeniably one of the world’s premier birding destinations.
Blog
The Classic Polar Cruise: Antarctic Peninsula Facts, Pics, and More
When it comes to experiencing the vast wonders of Antarctica, the Antarctic Peninsula stands out as an unparalleled destination.
Blog
Graham Land: A landscape dominated by volcanoes
An Antarctic cruise may explore the upper tip of the Antarctic Peninsula where one finds Graham Land, a jagged, glaciated part of Antarctica with a landscape dominated by volcanoes. Despite the volcanoes being over 200 million years old they are far from extinct with volcanic activity occurring today. Graham Land is connected to Palmer Land at the point where the Antarctic Peninsula widens from around 75 km to around 200 km south of Marguerite Bay.
Blog
Port Lockroy: History, Post Office, and Resident Penguins
Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the stunning coastlines, fjords, and other natural wonders of Antarctica, overlooking the man-made attractions nestled in between.