Marine Mammal Commission: Species List
North Pacific Right Whale (Eubalaena japonica)
North Pacific right whales, like right whales in the North Atlantic Ocean, were severely depleted by commercial whaling and are now among the world's most endangered mammals. Two populations are thought to survive, one in the western North Pacific off Russia and the other in the eastern North Pacific off Alaska. The status of both populations is poorly known. The western population is thought to number in the low hundreds although reliable information to support that estimate has not been published. The eastern population appears to number a few tens of animals, making it the most endangered marine mammal population in U.S. waters.
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