At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Stable
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The North Pacific right whale is one of the rarest large whales, especially its eastern population. It is assessed as Endangered.
Illegal whaling in the 20th century devastated already-reduced numbers.
Range & habitat
The North Pacific, with a tiny eastern population in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Past whaling (including illegal catches)
- Ship strikes
- Entanglement
Why it matters
Among the rarest of all great whales, the North Pacific right whale is a sobering example of how slowly heavily depleted whale populations recover.
Sources
Sources for North Pacific Right Whale
- IUCN Red List — look up North Pacific Right Whale (authoritative status)
- NOAA Fisheries
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the eastern North Pacific right whale so rare?
Heavy historical whaling, including illegal catches in the 20th century, reduced an already small population to a tiny number, and recovery has been extremely slow.
Why is the North Pacific right whale Endangered?
Published assessments cite the legacy of whaling, ship strikes, and entanglement. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.
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