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Researchers have raised the alarm over the drastic drop in the population of gray whales off the West Coast of the United States. According to the researchers, the sudden drop in gray whales population by almost one-quarter since 2016 closely mimics similar die-offs close to 2 decades ago.
NOAA Fisheries reported in a paper released last Tuesday that surveys counted at least 6,000 fewer migrating gray whales last winter, i.e. 21,000 compared with up to 27,000 in 2016.
(Photo : Silvana Palacios)
Scientists Still in the Dark About Cause of Die-offs, Attribute Causes to the Environment
According to the agency, there is a strange mortality event which occurred in 2019. Dozens of gray whales were washed up on the beaches of the Pacific Ocean. Scientists have not been able to put the finger on what is causing this substantial die-off.