Scientists have renewed hopes that one of the world's rarest whales might return to New Zealand waters after confirming a significant population around the sub- Antarctic Campbell Island.
A month-long expedition, funded by the New Zealand government's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and Department of Conservation (DOC), found the population of endangered southern right whales was slowly recovering.
The Campbell Island study confirmed the second remnant population of southern right whales after the first was identified at Auckland Island almost 20 years ago, NIWA marine ecologist Dr David Thompson said on Friday.
"We really did not know where we would find them, or how many there might be. Perhaps none," he said.
The team of scientists from New Zealand, the United States and Scotland recorded about 50 to 60 southern right whales over two days at Campbell Island.
The southern right whale was once abundant around New Zealand, but was hunted to near-extinction in the mid-1800s.
With few sightings around the mainland for decades, it was feared extinct in New Zealand.
"It would be great to see more and more southern right whales around mainland New Zealand, the way it used to be," Laura Boren, of DOC's marine species and threats team, said.
"One of the best ways to ensure this can happen is by protecting the sub-Antarctic populations, and to better understand the links between these populations."