A gray whale, absent from the Atlantic Ocean for two centuries, was spotted off the coast of Massachusetts this month—a thrilling yet climate-conscious discovery! 🐋 Researchers from the New England Aquarium identified the Pacific-native giant during an aerial survey, confirming it’s likely the same whale seen near Florida in late 2023.
\"I didn't want to say out loud what it was, because it seemed crazy,\"
said scientist Orla O’Brien. But photos don’t lie: This 27,000-kg visitor’s mottled skin and distinctive grunts set it apart from local humpbacks.
Why now? Scientists blame 🌍 climate change. Ice-free Arctic passages, like Canada’s Northwest Passage, let the whale slip through—a stark reminder of how marine life adapts (or moves) as oceans warm.
Once hunted to near extinction, gray whales are now a \"least concern\" species… except in Asia, where populations remain endangered. Their comeback? A rare eco-win—but their surprise New England vacay? A climate red flag. ⚠️
