In recent years the gull population has increased dramatically due to the availability of food in landfills full of garbage. Kelp gulls have learned to feed on the skin and blubber of right whales, alarming scientists and conservationists, posing a potential threat to these endangered whales.

I spent two field seasons in Argentina filming the scientific research of Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas (ICB) and the the natural history of southern right whales. Scientist Mariano Sironi and ICB were the focus of a documentary film I produced in 2007 about right whales. The 25 minute documentary film in spanish and english is distrbuted freely to schools throughout the country as part of the innovative “Bringing Whales to your Schools” program led by ICB.

A fierce debate has erupted about the best way to tackle this growing problem, including calls to cull one native species in order to protect another. The following is an update about the issue used for news programs in south america.

Links:

• Full Documentary – Southern Right Whales of Argentina
• Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas, Argentina