By: Aiden Ding

Near the coast of Sliabh Liag, a mountain in the County Donegal, a massive North Atlantic right whale heaved its massive body out of the water. This whale is thought to be one of the most endangered whale species. There are only an estimated 350 of them left in the wild.

Sliabh Liag is a seaside rocky cliff in the mountainous country of Ireland, a distance away from the natural area where the whales live near the coast of North America.

These massive creatures were spotted and reported to the IWDG, or Irish Whale and Dolphin group.
The IDWG described the scene as an “exceptionally rare record,” whereas the last time one was seen around Ireland was back in the year 1910.

The North Atlantic right whale is like a living submarine, large and torpedo shaped! Its diet consists of copepods, little crustaceans found in the water.

Ever since 1970, these whales have been listed as endangered because humans kept lowering their numbers. Ever since trawlers were introduced and oceans were industrialized, the case became even worse. Scientists predict that this species will go extinct in the next 20 years.

Ever since the sighting, the IDWG asks people to not seek out and find the whale, as its species is already endangered. “There is an enormous onus on us all to ensure this whale remains as long as it needs in Donegal bay, where it’s most likely feeding on tiny copepods (tiny crustaceans) without having to run the gauntlet of small craft and sightseers,” the organization said. “Please give it space.”

Image Credit by Andrea Holien