To scientists, these gentle giants are known as Eubalaena glacialis, meaning "True whale of the ice." Southern right whales spend their summers feeding in the waters around Antarctica. They migrate north in the winter to breed and can be seen off the coasts of Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Mozambique, South Africa and New Zealand. There are an estimated 7,000 southern right whales left in the world―an impressive fact considering they were nearly hunted to extinction in the most active years of the whaling industry. Even their name reflects their painful past: They’re known as “right whales” because they were the “right” whales to hunt, as they float when killed and are so friendly that they often swim right up to boats.