this single sample will provide mariano with a wealth of data, the whale s genetics, age and exposure to pollution, information crucial to both understanding more about the species and helping its survival. [ speaking foreign language ] [ speaking foreign language ] the southern right whales have bounced back, but their healthy population has attracted unwanted attention. a mother and her calf are being tailed by a family of killers.
[ speaking foreign language ] but getting one isn t easy. [ speaking foreign language ] his crossbow fires a special dart designed to collect a small amount of skin. he needs to time his shot perfectly. [ speaking foreign language ] this single sample will provide mariano with a wealth of data, the whale s genetics, age
they were driven to the brink of extinction. by the end of the whaling era in the 1960s, less than 1,000 were left worldwide. researcher mariana coscaelena has been monitoring them for decades. [ speaking foreign language ] mariano is now dedicated to protecting these whales. [ speaking foreign language ] taking skin samples is a key way to monitor them.