VIDEO

SAFE PASSAGE FOR WHALES

0:01
Today I'm joining an important scientific mission.

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We're counting the population of the endangered N Atlantic right whale on their migration N.

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But first I have to take a literal crash course for an emergency water landing.

0:18
My instructor, Alex Chapman, guides me through this important safety course.

0:23
I'm going to flip you upside down.

0:25
You got to push out the window, unbuckle and get yourself out.

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Well, I think I'm ready for that.

0:30
It sounds breathtaking.

0:32
A little bit, yeah.

0:39
This is one of the most nerve wracking things I've ever done.

0:44
But conservation isn't always risk free.

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This is what it takes to help save a species.

0:49
Here we go straight in.

1:12
I got a little panicky at the end there.

1:14
It's a stressful situation.

1:15
Doing that does happen.

1:16
You know, you've got the skills, you've got the knowledge to save yourself.

1:19
So I appreciate all that knowledge now and I'm looking forward to never having to use it.

1:27
Next up, Bedford, MA where I'm going to fly with an aerial patrol that keeps track of every single right whale swimming up the coast.

1:37
So obviously we have a 5th person with us today.

1:40
First time we've ever had a a guest aboard.

1:42
Are we ready to find some right whales today?

1:49
Bedford Tower Espinate Victor Alpha Holden, short one forward.

1:52
It won't be a straight up department.

1:54
That's my Victor Alpha tower, my 1 forklift takeoff, 1 forklift takeoff, Aspen a Victor Alpha.

2:02
Let's find spoils.

2:04
Oh, by the way, I am honored to be your first guest.

2:07
Whatever you're serving, you're part of the crew.

2:09
Now, what is the purpose of your survey?

2:13
So the purpose of the aerial surveys is to keep track of the different animals that come to this area.

2:19
We've been flying these surveys for a little over 10 years, so we've been able to build up a really robust timeline of how whales and other animals are using the water.

2:30
The Martha's Vineyard in Nantucket, there are 13 species of great whales, and they were all intensely haunted for centuries for their blubber.

2:43
North Atlantic right wheels swimming slowly close to the shore got their name because they were easy targets, the right whales to hunt, and they were nearly wiped out.

2:56
Even though they've been protected for nearly 100 years, they still face deadly threats, from ship strikes to entanglement in fishing gear.

3:09
I'll be enjoying this.

3:10
Can't wait to see my very first right whale.

3:13
Although these animals are huge, finding them in this gigantic channel between Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

3:25
Orla sees it first.

3:27
There it is.

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It's coming up built up surface.

3:30
Yeah, just barely.

3:34
Then I spot something.

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A dark silhouette breaches the water's surface.

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It's a North Atlantic right whale.

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We were really lucky.

3:43
Normally it takes us a little longer to find whales.

3:47
More appear, and we find ourselves circling a magnificent pod.

3:55
Look at that, there was probably about 15 or 20 whales all spread out and feeding.

4:02
So we spent about an hour circling.

4:05
We did see some juvenile animals and we definitely saw an adult female named Chimenea that we were able to recognize in the plane.

4:14
These aerial surveys aim to inform conservation and policy decisions.

4:19
I'm in awe of these creatures and also worried about their future.

One of the world’s most endangered whales, the North Atlantic right whale is vital to its ocean home. Dive into its world on Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild.

Peter Gros and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant embark on a mission to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Peter undertakes a challenging crash course in emergency water landing in order to join the aerial patrol team tracking whales on their migration up the eastern seaboard. Meanwhile, Dr. Rae visits the New England Aquarium to learn about the threats these majestic creatures face, including fishing gear entanglements and ship strikes. We’ll meet the dedicated men and women racing to save whales and explore the cutting-edge technology and conservation efforts designed to protect them.

Learn about Peter’s journey tracking whales from the air and why North Atlantic right whales are important for the ecosystem.

Watch “Safe Passage for Whales” on NBC.com and the NBC app.

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