Are narwhals endangered

Filed under Narwhal · Narwhal Whales editorial team

Narwhals are not currently classified as endangered. On the IUCN Red List the species is assessed as Least Concern, reflecting a global population that is relatively large and not in steep overall decline. That status, however, does not mean narwhals are free of pressure. They face threats from climate change and shrinking sea ice, increasing Arctic shipping and noise, and localised hunting, and some individual stocks may be more vulnerable than the global picture suggests. Because narwhals depend so heavily on a rapidly changing ice environment and show strong fidelity to specific areas, ongoing monitoring and careful management remain important to their future.

Sources: IUCN Red List — Narwhal (Monodon monoceros); NOAA Fisheries — Narwhal. Educational information only. See our sources & fact-check policy.

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