There are fewer than 400 right whales in the North Atlantic. You can make a difference in the recovery of this species. Started in 1980, the Right Whale Research Program of the Aquarium has been one of the longest continuously running whale programs in the world. Your tax-deductible donation will go directly towards the yearly costs of field research and data analysis.

To sponsor a right whale, choose one of the six whales and the level of your sponsorship on the online sponsorship form. Anyone—children, parents, community organizations, school classes or clubs can sponsor a whale. A right whale sponsorship also makes a great gift for holidays, birthdays, weddings, or any special occasion. You can sponsor a right whale online, call 617-973-6582 for more information or email rwhale@neaq.org. A right whale sponsorship includes:

 
Sponsorship level
Benefit
$45
$75
$125
$250
A 4x6 photo of your whale and a certificate
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x
x
x
A composite drawing and sighting map for your whale
x
x
x
x
Right whale information packet
x
x
x
x
One year subscription to Right Whale Research News (biannual newsletter)
x
x
x
x
Choice of Disappearing Giants* book or t-shirt**  
x
    
Disappearing Giants* book and t-shirt**    
x
  
T-shirt** and signed copy of The Urban Whale***      
x

* By Scott Kraus and Kenneth Mallory, hardcover, 48 pages

** Available in small, medium, large and x-large

*** Edited by Scott Kraus and Roz Rolland, hardcover, 543 pages

Meet the Whales!

Starry Night (adult male)

starynight The many white scars and dots on this whale's black body reminded researchers of the night sky, so they named him Starry Night.  He is frequently seen in courtship groups and, with the development of new genetic techniques, we may soon know which calves he has fathered.
Photo / S. Parks, WHOI 

Shackleton (male born in 1994)

shakelton Named after the intrepid Antarctic explorer, Shackleton the whale caused quite a commotion when he ventured up the Delaware River to Camden, NJ.  During this adventure he was struck by a tug boat, but he survived his ordeal and is now seen regularly on the Bay of Fundy feeding grounds.
Photo / NEAq

Piper (adult female)

blank Piper was first seen in 1993 and at the time was already at least two years old.  She was named for a scar on her flank that looks like a small airplane, such as the Piper Cub.  She had been entangled twice in a 12-year period, but was seen in April 2005 free of gear. She was sighted with her first calf in January 2006.
Photo / NEAq

Snowball (adult male)

snowball Snowball got his name from a unique scar above his left lip that resembles a big white snowball.  We do not know what caused this scar, but it does make him easy to identify, even from a distance.  Snowball has been seen in habitats where only a few right whales are documented yearly, such as Jeffrey's Ledge off the coast of New Hampshire and in the waters off Long Island.
Photo / Whale Center of New England

Calvin (female born in 1992)

Calvin Calvin was orphaned at the very early age of 8 months. She went on to survive an entanglement and, on December 30, 2004, she was sighted with her first calf. She was named (before her sex was known) for the spunky little character in the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip because she exhibited similar traits to the youngster: cleverness, perseverance and adaptability.  
Photo / NEAq

Phoenix (female born in 1987)

Phoenix Phoenix is a mother and grandmother.  In 1997 she was entangled in fishing gear but managed to escape. She was named for the mythical bird that burned but rose from the ashes.  Phoenix has survived a serious entanglement and "returned" from almost certain doom with only a distinctive lip scar to show for her two-year ordeal.
Photo / NEAq