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Endangered Whales See Promising Population Growth Despite Ongoing Threats
21 Oct
Summary
- North Atlantic right whale population up 8% since 2020
- Conservation measures in Canada credited for whale's recovery
- Whale still faces threats from ship collisions and fishing gear entanglement
As of October 2025, the population of the North Atlantic right whale, one of the rarest whale species on the planet, has continued to show signs of recovery. According to a recent report, the whale's numbers have increased by an estimated 8% since 2020, reaching a total of 384 animals.
This positive trend marks a significant turnaround from the previous decade, when the whale's population declined by around 25% between 2010 and 2020. Experts attribute this recent growth to the implementation of new management measures, particularly in Canada, which have helped protect the whales as their presence has increased in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
However, the whales are not yet out of the woods. They remain vulnerable to accidental deaths caused by collisions with ships and entanglement in fishing gear. Scientists have cautioned that the whales' slow recovery is still fragile, and stronger conservation efforts are needed to ensure their long-term survival.
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Despite these ongoing threats, the arrival of new breeding females and shorter intervals between calves for some established mothers have provided reasons for cautious optimism. While the 11 calves born this year were fewer than researchers had hoped for, any increase in the whale population is a welcome development.
