Pacific gray whales facing ‘catastrophic’ die-off as climate crisis hits food supply
Pacific gray whales are experiencing a catastrophic die-off linked to climate change and depleted food supplies. Environmental groups are urging the U.S. government to relist the species under the Endangered Species Act to prevent further population collapse.
Why it matters
The rapid decline of a major marine species serves as a critical indicator of the broader ecological impact of climate change on ocean health.
View of a gray whale breaching in the Pacific Ocean near Los Cabos, Baja California state, Mexico, in 2024./Getty Images View of a gray whale breaching in the Pacific Ocean near Los Cabos, Baja California state, Mexico, in 2024./Getty Images Whales Pacific gray whales facing ‘catastrophic’ die-off as climate crisis hits food supply Trump administration urged to relist a species in ‘very, very serious trouble’ under Endangered Species Act
Prefer the Guardian on Google Climate change is driving a gray whale “catastrophic mortality event” in the Pacific Ocean as melting sea ice depletes food sources and the animals starve, environmental groups warn .
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in