Like other North Atlantic right whales, it had callosities—patches of thick, white, rough tissue on its skin. In 2024, just 384 North Atlantic right whales were left in the wild in total, according to an estimate published last October. North Atlantic right whales have never recovered and are now on the brink of extinction. That year also saw the tragic death of whale rescuer Joe Howlett, who was killed after cutting fishing lines off a North Atlantic right whale in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Right now, researchers are continually watching for newborn right whales, and have been surprised by the 21 new arrivals.