Giant endangered sea creature spotted off Virginia coast — with a baby. See them

A large sea creature surprised researchers when she appeared off the coast of Virginia with a young calf, bringing hope for a species “approaching extinction.”

Researchers conducting offshore surveys came across the North Atlantic right whale pair about 60 miles southeast from Virginia Beach, the Mid-Atlantic Whale Monitoring Project said.

Pico, named after the Portuguese island near where she was spotted in 2009, was documented with her new baby June 1, according to researchers.

“Pico (Catalog #3270) surprised us with a late addition to the calving season,” the New England Aquarium said.

Right whales often journey to the warmer waters off the southeast U.S. for calving season, which typically runs from mid-November to mid-April, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The roughly 22-year-old whale was seen near North Carolina in December without a calf, but researchers estimate her calf was born during the normal calving season.

Right whales are one of the most endangered large whales, with fewer than 400 left in the wild, experts estimate. Human activity is the greatest threat the whales face, with boat strikes, entanglement in fishing gear and stress from noise pollution contributing to the species’ declining health and population.

Calves are usually born around 14 feet in length and can reach up to 52 feet, according to researchers.

The birth of Pico’s calf follows a string of recent whale deaths off the eastern seaboard, including multiple whales that washed up on the shores of Virginia beaches.

Pico is one of only about 70 reproducing females of her species, so every calf birth counts, researchers say.

Pico’s most recent calf is her third, and the 20th calf of this season.