Current:Home > MyThe world's most endangered large whale species is even closer to extinction than researchers thought-LoTradeCoin
The world's most endangered large whale species is even closer to extinction than researchers thought
View Date:2024-12-23 21:18:05
The world's most endangered large whale species is even closer to extinction than researchers previously thought. The North Atlantic Right Whale species is in a "crisis," NOAA says, with only a few hundred estimated individuals left in the world's oceans.
"The species is approaching extinction with fewer than 350 individuals and fewer than 70 reproductively active females remaining," NOAA said in an updated fact sheet on the animals.
Right whales have been undergoing an unusual mortality event since 2017, meaning that large numbers of the species have been unexpectedly dying off.
It was previously thought that fewer than 100 whales were part of the mortality event since it began. While that was still a significant number, given the species' small population size, the government agency said they determined even more whales are included in the total number.
In their latest update, officials said at least 114 whales have been impacted over the past six years. Of those, 36 have died, 33 were seriously injured and 45 suffered sublethal injuries or illness. Many of the cases are adult females and calves, prompting further concern as both are vital to the species' survival.
Andrea Gomez, a spokesperson for NOAA, told the Associated Press that the agency determined the updated figures after reviewing research photographs and surveys.
"Additional cases will continue to be reviewed," she said, "and animals will be added if appropriate, as more information is obtained."
While the revised tally is a significant jump for the rapidly declining population, there is a chance the situation could be even more dire – only about one-third of right whale deaths are actually documented, NOAA says.
In most of the UME cases, the whales were either entangled or struck by vessels – two "long-standing threats to the recovery of the species," NOAA says.
North Atlantic Right Whales are massive, weighing up to 140,000 pounds and growing up to 52 feet long. They should be able to live up to 70 years in Atlantic coastal waters, but many of the whales that have been injured or found dead are substantially younger.
In February, a 20-year-old male right whale was found dead on Virginia Beach after suffering a "catastrophic blunt force traumatic injury." Just weeks before, a newborn right whale was found dead under a pier near Morehead City, North Carolina. And late last year, another baby calf, just 1 1/2 years old, was found entangled off the coast of New Brunswick, Canada.
"North Atlantic right whales are approaching extinction," NOAA says. "Unless immediate action is taken to substantially reduce human-caused mortality and injury, the number of North Atlantic right whales will continue to decline, imperiling the species' ability to recover."
- In:
- North Atlantic
- Oceans
- Whales
- Atlantic Ocean
Li Cohen is a social media producer and trending content writer for CBS News.
veryGood! (25752)
Related
- The Daily Money: Inflation is still a thing
- Progress in Baby Steps: Westside Atlanta Lead Cleanup Slowly Earns Trust With Help From Local Institutions
- Occidental Seeks Texas Property Tax Abatements to Help Finance its Long-Shot Plan for Removing Carbon Dioxide From the Atmosphere
- Ricky Martin and Husband Jwan Yosef Break Up After 6 Years of Marriage
- Maine elections chief who drew Trump’s ire narrates House tabulations in livestream
- The case for financial literacy education
- The Nation’s Youngest Voters Put Their Stamp on the Midterms, with Climate Change Top of Mind
- A Teenage Floridian Has Spent Half His Life Involved in Climate Litigation. He’s Not Giving Up
- Tua Tagovailoa playing with confidence as Miami Dolphins hope MNF win can spark run
- Lululemon’s Olympic Challenge to Reduce Its Emissions
Ranking
- Summer I Turned Pretty's Gavin Casalegno Marries Girlfriend Cheyanne Casalegno
- Don’t Miss the Chance To Get This $78 Lululemon Shirt for Only $29 and More Great Finds
- Republicans Eye the SEC’s Climate-Related Disclosure Regulations, Should They Take Control of Congress
- Mauricio Umansky Shares Family Photos With Kyle Richards After Addressing Breakup Speculation
- Chris Wallace will leave CNN 3 years after defecting from 'Fox News Sunday'
- Can Wolves and Beavers Help Save the West From Global Warming?
- At COP27, the US Said It Will Lead Efforts to Halt Deforestation. But at Home, the Biden Administration Is Considering Massive Old Growth Logging Projects
- One Year Later: The Texas Freeze Revealed a Fragile Energy System and Inspired Lasting Misinformation
Recommendation
-
Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight odds will shift the longer the heavyweight bout goes
-
The U.S. is expanding CO2 pipelines. One poisoned town wants you to know its story
-
IRS chief says agency is 'deeply concerned' by higher audit rates for Black taxpayers
-
Overwhelmed by Solar Projects, the Nation’s Largest Grid Operator Seeks a Two-Year Pause on Approvals
-
Taylor Swift's Dad Scott Swift Photobombs Couples Pic With Travis Kelce
-
Amazon Shoppers Swear By This $14 Aftershave for Smooth Summer Skin—And It Has 37,600+ 5-Star Reviews
-
The 43 Best 4th of July 2023 Sales You Can Still Shop: J.Crew, Good American, Kate Spade, and More
-
Welcome to America! Now learn to be in debt