Dear all, The following new paper is now available: Groch, K.R., J. T. Palazzo Jr., P.A.C. Flores, F.R. Adler and M.E. Fabian (2005). Recent increases in the right whale (Eubalaena australis) population off southern Brazil. LAJAM (4)1: 41-47. Abstract Right whales that gather on a wintering ground off southern Brazil have been aerial surveyed and photographically identified since 1987. As of 2003 the Brazilian Right Whale Catalogue has 315 different individual whales of which 31 were resighted in other years (23 females, 3 yearlings and 5 whales of unknown age/sex). No resightings occurred before 1994 and 71% (n=24) were recorded in 2003. The modal observed interval between calving events is 3 years, consistent with successful reproduction. From 1997 to 2003 the number of reproductive females in the Central Survey Area off Brazil increased at a rate of 29.8% per year (95% CL 15.7, 44.0) and at 14% per year (95% CL 7.1, 20.9) from 1987 to 2003. These rates are significantly different from zero (t=4.133, p<0.009 and t=4.06, p<0.004, respectively) and the increase from 1997 to 2003 is higher than the rates observed for right whales in other wintering grounds in the South Atlantic. The right whales on the Brazilian wintering ground are not just transients. Ten percent of the whales have been resighted. If the number of whales continues to increase they will probably expand their distribution throughout their historical 2,400 km range and come into increasing conflict with human activities. The pdf reprint can be downloaded from this website: http://www.baleiafranca.org.br/oprojeto/oprojeto_publicacoes.htm Karina Groch _____________________________________________ Karina R. Groch, Ph.D. Coordinator, Brazilian Right Whale Project, Projeto Baleia Franca - IWC/ Brasil Centro Nacional de Conservação da Baleia Franca Av. Atlântica, s/no., Itapirubá Norte, Caixa Postal 201 Imbituba, SC, 88780-000 Brasil Ph. +55 48 99711161 Fax. +55 48 32552922 www.baleiafranca.org.br krgroch@terra.com.br pesquisa@baleiafranca.org.br