"Narwhals have lived in the icy Arctic Ocean for centuries. But as temperatures rise, ice disappears, and humans venture into the Arctic, these animals are in danger. Discover how scientists are working to protect narwhals"--
With their long tusks, narwhals are unique whales that live in the Arctic Ocean.
But as climate change causes global temperatures to rise, less and less sea ice is covering the Arctic Ocean each year. Narwhals are left vulnerable without the ice, which historically provided them with safe areas to roam out of reach of their natural predators, killer whales. And humans are taking advantage of the clearer water, searching and drilling for oil and hauling cargo. So as Arctic sea ice shrinks, a new challenge emerges: noise pollution from human activity. The thrum of engines and other man-made sounds threaten narwhals ability to locate food, communicate with other narwhals, and use echolocation to navigate while migrating.
How does noise pollution from human activities affect these remarkable whales? And how can people reduce noise pollution in the Arctic Ocean to help them? Follow along as scientists study the effects of noise pollution on narwhals and work to ensure they have a hope-filled future.
