Lab Notes: The plight of the southern right whales

Southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) were named by whalers because their high oil content made them the "right" ones to kill.

In the decades since whaling was banned, southern right numbers increased — but a new study shows that population growth stalled, and might've dropped a bit, despite current numbers still far below what they were in pre-whaling times.

So what's going on with the southern rights?