Seeing Red

North Atlantic Right Whale critically endangered.

seeing red.jpg

"Harmonia" Photo: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

The North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) has been declared critically endangered, the last step before extinction, according to the IUCN Red List. Previously the species was designated as endangered.

The IUCN Red List is a comprehensive inventory of the status of threatened plant and animal species. It is a science-based, quantitative tool to evaluate extinction risk globally. 

IUCN cited a Right Whale total population decline of approximately 15% since 2011 with fewer than 250 mature whales estimated to be alive at the end of 2018. Incidentally, the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium estimated a total population of 409 right whales in 2018. Right whales are considered mature at 10 years of age. The year 2018 was particularly grim year with no new calves being born. There has since been a rebound with 7 new calves born in 2019 and 10 in 2020. However, one calf with ship propeller wounds has since died. 

Threats to North Atlantic Right Whales include entanglement in fishing gear, vessel strikes and climate change which pushes food sources further north to cooler waters. The North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium estimates a total of 409 whales remaining.

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