Great Australian Bight Right Whale Study

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Great Australian Bight Right Whale Study

Sharing progress of southern right whale research in Australia

The Great Australian Bight Right Whale Study is committed to the recovery of the endangered southern right whale. Founded in 1991 we return every year to the coastal winter calving grounds in the Great Australian Bight, South Australia to monitor population trends, biology and acoustics. This study has, and will continue to be fundamental for informing species conservation and management. Lead by

a team of researchers that dedicate their winter to the whales and life on the Nullarbor, we're excited to share our journey and hope it will encourage others to take positive steps towards the conservation of southern right whales and our oceans.

07/03/2026

Today on International Women’s Day we celebrate the incredible women who make Australian Right Whale research possible. From scientists and field researchers to volunteers and supporters, so many dedicated women contribute their knowledge, care, and passion to protecting these remarkable whales.
At the same time, we honour the whale mothers who journey thousands of kilometres to the nursery waters on Yalata Country, where they nurture and protect the next generation. Their strength, patience, and devotion remind us that care and resilience are powerful forces in both nature and community.
Today we celebrate the women working to understand and protect these whales, and the mothers of the ocean who return year after year to raise their calves

05/03/2026

Our research, funded by Minderoo Foundation and done in partnership with the Yalata Anangu Aboriginal Corporation, has identified a significant decline Southern Right Whale populations and breeding habits over the past decade.

26/02/2026

Tune in to Sky News Weather TV today at 2:15 AEST to hear Dr Claire Charlton interviewed on Climate Change and Whales

14/02/2026

For decades, southern right whales have told a story about human impact and responsibility.

Once hunted to near extinction, their recovery following international protection proved something powerful: when countries act together, conservation works.

But today, their reproductive rates are declining again. This time, the threat isn’t direct hunting. It’s climate change.

Long-term research shows warming oceans are reshaping sea ice patterns and disrupting Antarctic krill populations, a foundational species in the Southern Ocean food web. When krill declines, the effects ripple upward.

Southern right whales are a sentinel species. Their reproductive health offers an early signal of broader ecosystem stress. Protecting them now requires climate-informed ocean management and stronger international coordination, including safeguarding Antarctic krill through bodies such as CCAMLR (Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition).

Read more in our latest story: https://www.minderoo.org/stories/whales-whisper/

Drone Permit Number: M26085-13

13/02/2026

New research alert 🐋🌊
Southern right whales were once a global conservation success story, but new research shows that’s beginning to change.
A newly published study, funded by the Minderoo Foundation, led by scientists from Flinders University and Curtin University with international collaborators, has found that southern right whales are having calves less often than in the past.
Drawing on more than 30 years of photo-identification data at Head of Bight, located within the Yalata Indigenous Protected Area in South Australia, the study links declining reproduction to climate-driven changes in the Southern Ocean, including loss of Antarctic sea ice, marine heatwaves and reduced food availability.
Similar patterns across South America, South Africa and Australia suggest a global climate signal, with whales acting as indicators of broader ocean change.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land and sea where research was conducted, particularly the Yalata Anangu Aboriginal Corporation, for their valued partnership and many years of in-kind support at Head of Bight, which is located within the Yalata Indigenous Protected Area, recognising the strong connection and ongoing custodianship of the Yalata Anangu Community.
🔗 Link to paper in bio

CurtinUniversity MinderooFoundation

12/02/2026

Southern right whales are a powerful indicator of ocean health. As a sentinel species, their reproductive decline is an early warning of broader ecosystem disruption.

Protecting them requires climate-informed ocean management and coordinated conservation action.

This includes safeguarding Antarctic krill — a foundational food source — through international bodies like CCAMLR.

Dive into the full story here: https://www.minderoo.org/stories/whales-whisper/

16/01/2026

A southern right whale mum and calf, thriving, resting and learning together
Moments like this remind us why protection matters. These whales were once hunted to near extinction and every new calf is a sign of resilience but also responsibility. Healthy oceans and ongoing conservation mean more of this, whales returning generation after generation

Drone images collected under scientific research permit number M26085-13

14/01/2026

Tracking calving rates allows us to evaluate whether current protections are truly supporting recovery.
It’s one of the clearest indicators of population health, and a reminder that protection must be ongoing.

12/01/2026

Behind every dataset is dedication, long days, careful observations, and consistent effort.
Reliable data depends on showing up, season after season.
This commitment underpins every conservation outcome that follows.

09/01/2026

Many of our most valuable records begin with someone standing on a clifftop or beach, simply paying attention.
Community sightings expand our monitoring reach and help strengthen protection across South Australian waters.
Conservation works best when people are part of the story.

07/01/2026

Recovery isn’t just a feeling, it’s something we can measure.
Long-term data shows where populations are improving and where continued protection is still essential.
Evidence helps focus effort where it’s needed most.

05/01/2026

Our findings directly influence how coastlines are managed during whale season.
By aligning human activity with whale presence, we help reduce disturbance at critical times, protecting mothers and calves when they’re most vulnerable.
This is data in action.

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Perth, WA

Website

http://www.southernrightwhales.com.au/

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