Environmental groups report a significant decline in the Pacific gray whale population, which has dropped from approximately 20,000 in 2019 to fewer than 13,000 this year. This decline is attributed to a 'catastrophic mortality event' driven by climate change, which is reducing food availability due to melting sea ice, alongside other threats such as ship strikes and pollution.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is being urged to relist the gray whale under the Endangered Species Act. However, the current administration's stance on wildlife protections raises concerns about the effectiveness of such measures in addressing the ongoing crisis.