Gray whales with the scientific name Eschrichtius Robustus are believed to be extinct in the Atlantic Ocean. According to the New England Aquarium in Boston, the species has not been recorded there for over 200 years. These gray whales are known for their gray, spotted bodies. They are very large, with female gray whales reaching lengths of up to 49 feet or about 15 meters, and an average weight of around 90,000 pounds or about 41,000 kilograms. Unlike other whales, gray whales do not have a dorsal fin, but instead have a hump on their lower back.

When conducting an aerial survey on March 1st, researchers from the aquarium discovered a whale swimming alone at a depth of 30 miles (48 km) just south of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The whale was actively hunting a pigeon, and this activity was recorded by the scientists conducting the survey flight. Although the pictures they took provided an idea of what they saw, the certainty regarding the identity of the whale could only be confirmed after they returned to the aquarium to review the photos.

After being given to fellow researchers, the photo was confirmed as a gray whale, in line with O'Brien's suspicion. Although gray whales are more common in the Pacific Ocean, the last sighting in the Atlantic occurred in the 18th century. In the past 15 years, there have only been five gray whale sightings in the Atlantic and Mediterranean waters, including a rare sighting off the coast of Florida in December. Scientists suspect that this sighting may be the same whale as before.

The scientists who discovered the sightings of gray whales still do not have certainty about the reasons why the whales travel far north. However, they suggest that it is likely due to global climate change. This is because the Northwest Passage, a sea route in Canada that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, has been regularly losing ice in recent years, mostly due to global temperature increase.