Our week with the southern right whales of Patagonia was filled with emotion, sadness, and moments we are still trying to process.

We traveled to Puerto Pirámides hoping to document the right whales and the other extraordinary wildlife of the Valdés Peninsula. What we encountered turned into a harsh and deeply personal confrontation with the reality of what is happening to our oceans.

According to reports, more than 100 southern right whale calves have washed up dead on the coast this season, with some estimates placing the figure at 150 or higher.

We witnessed the tragedy firsthand.

Along the coast, we found dead calves on the beaches. In a single location, we counted seven. Seeing these young whales lost at what should have been the beginning of their lives was devastating.