JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. — As wildlife officials work to track new endangered mom and calf pairs popping up this calving season, they're also trying to maintain the health of the less than 400 North Atlantic right whales remaining in the world.

The NOAA Fisheries Service said a juvenile right whale named Division (#5217) was spotted entangled in several lines by an aerial survey team with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Dec. 3. The whale, born in the 2022 season, had lines wrapped around his head and mouth, and another cutting into his blowhole. Photos show the lines trailing even beyond his flukes, or tail.

Division could possibly have been entangled for months, having last been spotted line-free in July 2025 in Canada.

Some of the gear was removed by trained respo

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