The North Atlantic right whale is one of the world’s most endangered large whale species. Climate change also appears to be exacerbating the problem — warmer sea temperatures have likely pushed their main prey species further north during summer, into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where the whales are more exposed to accidental encounters with ships and also at high risk of entanglement in crab-pot ropes. 1). Fewer than 400 survive today, with only 95 females of breeding age. 97% of our funds go towards program and support services, with only 3% going towards fundraising. “Every death brings this species closer to extinction,” said Kim Elmslie, campaign director for Oceana Canada. The North Atlantic right whale is one of the world’s most endangered large whale species. Our Board of Directors and President’s Circle are authorizing an emergency 3x match: Pitch in by September 30 and every dollar you give will be matched 2-for-1 up to $150,000 to protect predator species and other wildlife to restore balance to nature! Defenders of Wildlife today announced the launch of its newest initiative, the Working Circle Initiative (WCI).

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced today that it is changing the status of the North Atlantic right whale from “endangered” to “critically endangered” on its Red List of Threatened Species, recognizing that the species faces an extremely high risk of extinction. Many right whales meet a similar end -- 88 percent of right whale deaths are due to vessel strikes or fishing line entanglement. Fewer than 400 survive today, with only 95 females of breeding age. After the end of commercial whaling the population was thought to be recovering slowly; however, evidence indicates that it has been declining since about 1990 (ref. Out of 10 right whale calves born in the 2019-20 calving season, two have already been killed by vessel strikes and their mothers have not been resighted since.

Another calf was also struck earlier in the year and is presumed dead. According to Canadian conservation group Oceana, at least 31 North Atlantic right whales have been killed since 2017 — 21 of them in Canadian waters. The North Atlantic right whale is now just one step away from extinction. This status change is a call to arms: unless we act decisively to turn the tide, the next time the right whale’s Red List status changes it will be to ‘extinct.’”. Jane Davenport, senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife, issued the following statement: “For nearly a century, North Atlantic right whales have been protected from the commercial whaling that pushed them to the brink of extinction, but they continue to be killed by human activities. Sorry you must be at least 19 years of age to consume this content.

Females and calves are also uniquely vulnerable to vessel strikes. Once hunted by generations of European and New England whalers, the North Atlantic right whale continues to face human-caused dangers along the eastern seaboard of Canada and the United States. The government can and should immediately make this slowdown mandatory. Today, even with some promising birth numbers in recent years, there are only about 400 right whales left. 1-800-385-9712. … With only around 400 North Atlantic right whales left in the world, we have no more time to waste. log in to join the conversation. 1130 17th Street NW

“Our data shows that the majority of ships are not slowing down when passing through the voluntary slowdown zone in the Cabot Strait. Their population is estimated to have just over 400 individuals remaining. A sad reminder to all the people and organizations fighting to save this endangered species that these babies face an unpredictable and potentially dangerous future. Since 2017, there have been 41 confirmed right whale deaths and serious injuries (i.e., live whales with injuries likely to cause death) due to entanglements with commercial fishing gear and vessel strikes. Sorry you must be at least 19 years of age to consume this content. The North Atlantic right whale is now just one step away from extinction. This effort aims to bridge the gap of understanding between predator recovery and sustainable ranching. North Atlantic right whales are one of the most endangered species of large whales. Washington, DC 20036