In our recent research, we found that Southern right whales can live over 100 years, with some individuals potentially reaching 150, nearly doubling previous lifespan estimates.
North Atlantic right whales, once believed to live about 70 years, now show an alarming average lifespan of just 22 years due to human threats like entanglements and ship strikes.
Photos of individual whales allowed researchers to develop 'survivorship curves', estimating their lifespans based on the rate at which individuals disappeared from the photographic record.
The longevity of bowhead whales, previously underestimated, was revealed through traditional hunting practices and the discovery of ancient harpoon points, showing they can live over 200 years.
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