With their charming smile and white coloration, beluga whales are among the most iconic marine mammals in the world. Alaska is the only place in the United States where you can go to see belugas in their natural habitat. There are five populations of belugas in Alaska. Of those five, the Cook Inlet beluga population is the only population that is currently listed as endangered. With just 279 Cook Inlet belugas left, this population has declined over 75% from its historic population of 1,300 individuals. The population continues to decline at a rate of 2.3% annually. Learn more about this beloved little while whale under threat in our storymap!
