Recent aerial surveys estimated the Cook Inlet population between 290 and 386 individuals, a slight increase from previous counts.
Projects like Beluga Bits allow volunteers to help identify individual whales through underwater photography. 900x900 Beluga">
Most belugas inhabit Arctic waters, but they can be found as far south as the Gulf of St. Lawrence . Conservation & Research Efforts Recent aerial surveys estimated the Cook Inlet population
Monitoring programs use high-resolution satellite imagery (like the VHR imagery from 2021) to estimate whale abundance in remote fiords. Lawrence
Key challenges include noise pollution , habitat degradation, and toxic dumping, especially in industrial areas like Cook Inlet. Defending Cook Inlet Belugas - ArcGIS StoryMaps
This critically endangered population has seen a nearly 79% decline since 1979.
Known as "canaries of the sea," belugas use complex sounds for navigation and social bonding.