Every sighting of the critically endangered whale off the California coast is incredibly valuable to us.

A rare sighting has been observed off the coast of California, and biologists are excited about the discovery.

A North Pacific right whale was spotted near Point Reyes by a marine wildlife team in the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, according to Jenna Malek, North Pacific right whale recovery coordinator and marine mammal specialist, who shared the news with Planet Chronicle Digital.

We are thrilled because we have limited knowledge about the whales' whereabouts outside of Alaska, according to Malek.

"This aids in comprehending the areas they frequent, the time of year they are present, and the activities they engage in."

Since the 1970s, there have been only a few sightings of the mammal, with 15 of those reports recorded in California.

The rare North Pacific right whale was identified by trained species observers due to its distinctive features.

The V-shaped blow of the right whale distinguishes it from the humpback whale's vertical spout.

What are commonly known as "calluses" on right whales' heads are actually bumps of skin that help them navigate and communicate.

Malek explained that the white patches of rough skin on right whales, which are covered in things like barnacles, serve as their unique identifier, similar to a fingerprint.

"As the whale grows older, its pattern remains consistent, allowing us to recognize it and conclude that we have seen it before based on the available information."

The North Pacific right whale's calluses on its head were not visible due to the rocky sea conditions during the May sighting, preventing the observers from identifying it.

According to the observation crew's footage, the whale appeared to be in a state of rest, known as "milling," where it remained on the surface without moving in a particular direction or actively feeding.

Malek stated that the whale appeared to be taking it easy because it wasn't moving. Due to its slow breath pace and lack of movement in any direction, it's likely that it was resting or sleeping.

Less than 50 North Pacific right whales make up the eastern population.

The rarity of the North Pacific right whale sighting is enhanced by its location, as the eastern population comprises fewer than 50 individuals.

Only 300 to 400 individuals of the species exist on both the eastern and western sides, according to Malek.

The population on the western side of the North Pacific, between Russia and Japan, is performing better than the populations off the coast of the U.S. and Canada, but we lack sufficient knowledge about them, according to the marine specialist.

Genetic analysis suggests that interbreeding between eastern and western North Pacific right whales has not occurred, but there are a limited number of breeding females.

Discovering behaviors and habits of the rare North Pacific right whale is still a goal for the team, and sightings like this one are crucial in achieving that goal.

The expert stated that despite examining historical whaling logs, no definitive migratory pathway or breeding and calving area for North Pacific right whales has been identified.

"This whale may have been in Alaska or may have been further north, but now it's in California."

"Seeing whales consistently travel from point A to point B every year is not common, so it's interesting to observe them leaving California. This doesn't necessarily mean that this area is ecologically significant, but it does suggest that the whale may have been in Alaska or further north before arriving in California."

Since Alaska, California has emerged as the North Pacific right whale sighting hotspot.

Recently, there has been an increase in sightings of Malek, which may not necessarily indicate a population growth but suggests that people are more adept at spotting and reporting their observations.

If you encounter an endangered species while in the water, report the discovery to [email protected] and an expert will verify the sighting.

"We urge individuals to capture images of wildlife from a courteous distance. Gather such data and subsequently share it with our fisheries department, as every sighting is highly valuable to us."