their name is a reminder of a darker past when these slow-moving whales were considered the right ones to hunt. 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 coscarella has been monitoring them for decades. [ speaking foreign language ] mariano is now dedicated to protecting these whales. [ speaking foreign language ]
they beach themselves. it s a remarkable technique. the beaches are death traps for whales and dolphins. it s too easy to get stranded, but not for this family. they ve learned how to expertly maneuver back into the sea. maga and her pod are only one of two orca families in the world known to pull off this dangerous feat. ever since she first laid eyes on them, orca expert maria leoni gaffet has been fascinated by
42 tons of it. [ speaking foreign language ] there s never a dull moment when you re working alongside giants. [ speaking foreign language ] lucas takes his haul back to dry land, avoiding whales as he goes. this bay is home to hundreds of them. it s one of the largest nurseries on the planet. for southern right whales.
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.
away, refueling and resupplying. the fishing boats rarely return to port and can spend years at sea. [ speaking foreign language ] the coast guard destroyer is not alone inside the protected zone. nearby are two endangered ocean giants, a pair of sei whales. and closer to shore, hundreds of