Rare whale sighting off Vancouver Island raises hopes for the species

Researchers say a rare right whale was seen off Vancouver Island on June 14, surprising observers who first thought it might be a humpback. Tory Bright of Bere Point Research spotted the whale near Queen Charlotte Strait after noticing a blowhole and taking a closer look through his camera. He later identified it as a right whale, a species that has been seen only a handful of times in British Columbia over the past 75 years. Experts with Fisheries and Oceans Canada said the sighting is encouraging because the presence of a young whale suggests the species may still be reproducing. Others who saw the animal said the encounter was remarkable and highlights both the rarity of the species and the threats it still faces.