Bowhead whale populations are nearing pre-commercial whaling numbers in U.S. waters. CoreyFord / Getty Images In good news that has scientists excited, bowhead whale populations are nearing pre-commercial whaling numbers in U.S. waters. According to a recent National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) report card on the species, bowhead whales are the true Arctic baleen whale species and the only one that lives in the cold waters year-round. In the 1700s, they were targeted for their oil, blubber and baleen, or whalebone. Because they’re slow-moving and large, they made easy targets and were nearly hunted to extinction by the start of the 20th century. According to NOAA , the cessation of whaling, improved management and the general inaccessibility of their habitats helped several populations rebound, including the U.S. one off the coast of Alaska. Still, the Arctic is drastically changing due to the climate crisis , with immense loss of sea ice, soaring temperatures and raging wildfires . This grim reality has caused many to conclude that "The Arctic is Dying." News from the Arctic has been almost uniformly bad, but the bowhead’s conservation success, especially for the U.S. population off of Alaska, stands out as a beacon of […]
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