Humpback whales were once doomed to extinction, but a ban on commercial hunting in 1985 led to a remarkable recovery. Some 25,000 humpback whales now live in the wild, a remarkable recovery from just 450 whales 70 years ago.
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Scientists mistakenly declared this seal extinct in 1928 due to hunting, but it was rediscovered in 1954. Subsequent efforts to protect the seal’s home on the Isla Guadalupe paved the way to a full recovery, and the seal is no longer considered endangered.
Named for its huge size and trunk-like nose, there were just 100 northern elephant seals left in 1910. They were even mistakenly declared extinct in the 1880s. The seals have made a remarkable comeback, recovering to their original population size before human hunting.
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Although the adorable creatures nicknamed “sea cows” are considered vulnerable by the IUCN, and manatee deaths have been high in Florida this year, conservation efforts centered around the West Indian manatee mean that the species will likely be safe from extinction in the near future, scientists say.
IUCN Red List
However, researchers note that 21 percent of marine mammals lack sufficient data on the IUCN Red List of threatened species, hindering conservation efforts.
Scientists say there’s one critical way the general public can save these animals — by practicing “citizen science” through our smartphones.
You can help conservationists by logging marine mammal sightings on apps like Whale Alert, Dolphin and Whale 911, Beach Track, SEAFARI, Whale Track, Happywhale, and SIREN.