Earlier this month, the Guardian reported that multiple whales have been found dead around the Canadian coast. The exact causes of there are deaths unknown, though ocean pollution and collision trauma with vessels are heavily suspected. These were north Atlantic right whales – an endangered species, with only an estimated population of 525 remaining. Now, another breed of whale is at risk of becoming extinct: the narwhal whale.
The narwhal's incredible protruding spiral of a tusk has seen it labelled the 'unicorn of the sea,' and just like a unicorn, this majestic mammal could soon be something of the imagination, as it has been labelled by the WWF as 'near-threatened' due to declining numbers as a result of climate change. Notorious documentary Blackfish famously covered the tragic effects of keeping whales in captivity, but now even their natural habitats are becoming inhabitable.
Narwhals are homely and set in their ways, rarely venturing out from their Greenland habitat, as well as being fussy eaters – halibut, cod and squid are at the top of their menu. This melting of the sea ice due to climate change is causing havoc to their survival, as their prey is declining due to temperature rising. That’s not all, the narwhal is a slow swimmer and instead of swimming away, uses glaciers to seek refuge when being hunted, without the glaciers the narwhal has nowhere to hide - and no way to survive.
So, what’s being done about this? Next month, explorer Pen Hadow will use two yachts to sail to the North Pole from Alaska to study the threatened wildlife. Also, according to the New Scientist, 2018 will see researchers tagging and tracking narwhal’s as they swim under their beloved ice sheets to 'measure temperatures with sensors and use this to explain the changing melt.'
There are ways you can help combat climate change by changing small parts of your daily routine. Transportation pollution is one of the main contributors to climate change, so why not ride your bike or walk part of your journey to work tomorrow? Being more energy efficient will also help, so unplug that iPhone charger you’re not using and hang out your washing instead of shoving it in the dryer - the sea unicorns will be grateful.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.