National Geographic News, Reporting Your World Daily

Monday, November 23, 2009

Photo: Seagulls Attacking Whales Off Argentina


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A female southern right whale swims near the coast of South Africa with her calf. Biologists in Argentina report that right whales there are coming under increased attacks from hungry kelp gulls pecking at the mammals' skin and blubber. Mothers and calves are particularly vulnerable to the attacks, because they spend more time at the surface, the scientists say.

Photograph by Bobby Haas/NGS