How did the Southern ‘Right’ Whale get its name?

The name derives from ‘Southern’ to distinguish from the Northern variety of this specie: which has a greater number of callosities (parasites which attach to the skin) on the head and less on its lower lip. They were called ‘Right’ because in the whaling days this was the right whale to hunt, as they are slow swimming, move close to shore, float when dead and yield a high quantity of oil and bone.

Recent News