National Geographic: Why Are So Many Gray Whales Dying in the Pacific?
- Malnutrition
- Species conservation
- Pathology
Scientists struggle to explain why the gray whale population plummeted by nearly a quarter between 2016 and 2020.
Published by National Geographic: April 13, 2021
As early morning fog lifts off the Baja California coastline, Alushe Camacho steers a small fishing boat through a mangrove-lined estuary, his eyes fixed on the horizon. During most of the year, Camacho hunts grouper, sole, and hammerhead sharks. Today he’s in search of gray whales.
After several minutes Camacho spies his target: a heart-shaped cloud of ocean spray erupting from the water. Suddenly an adult whale thrusts its tapered head straight through the surface, pausing for five long seconds before disappearing under the waves.
Yes, I want to save a life!
Yes, I want to save a life!
You’ll be giving sick and injured animals the best possible care at the Center’s state-of-the-art hospital. With your gift today, you are giving a patient a second chance at life in the wild.
See Our Latest News
{"image":"\/Misc\/Graphics\/cropped-images\/climate-change-graphic-giant-earth-shutterstock-1798-6-5113-3994-1680046432.jpg","alt":"An Earth Day graphic of people holding the planet, recycling, planting a tree and moving a solar panel.","title":"5 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/5-ways-to-celebrate-earth-day","label":"News Update","date":"2024-04-18 02:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Hawaiian monk seals\/2024\/cropped-images\/hms-rs10-release-photo-c-the-marine-mammal-center-noaa-permit-24359-0-0-966-755-1712699238.jpg","alt":"Hawaiian monk seal RS10 is released and heads toward the water","title":"Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal Back Home on Kaua\u02bbi After Receiving Life-Saving Care for Ingested Fishing Gear","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/endangered-hawaiian-monk-seal-back-home-on-kauai-after-receiving-life-saving-care-for-ingested-fishing-gear","label":"Press Release","date":"2024-04-09 02:00:00"}
Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal Back Home on Kauaʻi After Receiving Life-Saving Care for Ingested Fishing Gear
April 9, 2024
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Sea otter\/cropped-images\/sea-otter-mom-pup-photo-c-brian-simuro-505-0-3387-2646-1618247266.jpg","alt":"sea otter mother and pup","title":"Top Eco Friendly Mother\u2019s Day Gifts that Give Back","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/eco-friendly-mothers-day-gifts-that-give-back","label":"News Update","date":"2024-04-08 02:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Places\/Monterey Bay\/cropped-images\/monterey-bay-shutterstock-14-18-4196-3277-1712079225.jpg","alt":"Monterey Bay rocky coastline with blue skies and clouds","title":"Three Key Members Added to Center's Leadership Team with Backgrounds Far Beyond the Ocean","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/three-key-members-added-to-centers-leadership-team-with-backgrounds-far-beyond-the-ocean","label":"Press Release","date":"2024-04-02 02:00:00"}
Three Key Members Added to Center's Leadership Team with Backgrounds Far Beyond the Ocean
April 2, 2024
Read Morespecies conservation
pathology
Pádraig Duignan
Gray Whale