Recent Calf Death a Blow in a Tenuous Tale of Survival News provided by Share this article World Whale Day (Feb. 21 st), just fourteen calves offer hope for the survival of the North Atlantic right whale, a critically endangered species on the brink of extinction. Though the trend of this recent calving season is positive, the situation remains tenuous, given the recent tragic death of a calf reported just last week. This is according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) which has led a multi-lateral campaign across the US and Canada to restore this once thriving species since 2017.