NANAIMO, B.C. -- Fisheries and Oceans Canada says biologists have spotted a rare, endangered whale in British Columbia waters for the first time in more than 60 years.
North Pacific right whales were once abundant between B.C. and the Bering Sea before they were hunted to near extinction before the 20th century.
They are now listed as endangered in Canada and scientists believe only a few hundred may remain alive, mainly in the western north Pacific.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada says biologist James Pilkington spotted one of the whales west of Haida Gwaii on June 9 while aboard the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Arrow Post.
Pilkington and his fellow biologists John Ford and Graeme Eliis then observed the animal for a total of 17 hours over the next few days as it foraged for zooplankton on the ocean's surface.
The federal agency says sightings of the whale are rare, and the animal has been recorded in Canadian waters only six times during the past century.
