Southern Right Whales, so named because they were the right whales to hunt - mainly because they come very close to shore. This trait also makes them an easy spot while whale watching, especially in the miniscule town of Puerto Pirámides on Península Valdes, where they’ve never been hunted.

People have been running whale watching trips out of this port (there’s basically nothing else there, and the port is more like a sand bar) for about 30 years, and the guides are quick to mention that their harmony with the whales has encouraged the animals to trust them over time - i.e. come right up next to the boats.

About 500 whales come back to this area every spring/early summer to mate (with multiple partners), give birth (after almost a year of pregnancy) and raise their young.