Study Names Cook Inlet Ship Noise as a Reason Endangered Beluga Population Not Growing
A recent study on vocalizations of endangered beluga whales in Cook Inlet revealed for the first time the complex repertoire of that population and the extent of ship noise in drowning out communications among belugas.
These small white whales are highly social and vocal marine mammals. They use acoustics to find prey, navigate their environment, avoid predators, and maintain group cohesion. For Alaska’s critically endangered Cook Inlet beluga population, now at 331 animals, these ...
Photo of female beluga and calf in Cook Inlet courtesy of NOAA.
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