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Narwhal
The elusive narwhal’s scientific name is Monodon monoceros, which means the whale with one tooth and one horn. The tusk is actually the whale’s upper left canine tooth. Male narwhals commonly have a single tusk, but they sometimes have two tusks, or none at all. Around 15% of females have a tusk.
© Paul Nicklen / National Geographic Stock / WWF-Canada
Narwhal facts
Scientific name
Monodon monoceros
Weight
Males up to 1900 kg
Females up to 1550 kg
Length
Males up to 5.4 m
Females up to 4.9 m
Tusk
Average 190 cm
Longest measured 267 cm
Up to 3 meters long
Lifespan
Females, up to approx. 100 years
Males, up to approx. 84 years
Population
There are an estimated 123,000 mature narwhal in the wild
IUCN Red List status
Least Concern (2017)
Narwahls are most known for their tusk, which can be up to 3 meters long. The tusk is actually a tooth. Male narwhals tend to have a tusk and females do not. However, there is a lot of variability in how the tusk is displayed. Sometimes females have a small tusk and males have no tusk. There are even some narwhals with double tusks. Tusks also vary in shape and dimension – some are straight, others corkscrew-like, some are thin and delicate, others are short and thick.
Scientists discovered that the tusk allows narwhals to sense salinity and water temperatures through porous parts of the tusk. However, the tusk’s sensory abilities are not crucial for survival, as not all narwhals have tusks.
Along with bowhead whales and beluga whales, narwhals are one of the three whales that live only in Arctic waters. They are adapted to the icy cold waters of the Arctic Ocean.
Illustration: Ketill Berger, ketill.berger@filmoform.no / © WWF Global Arctic Programme
Threats to narwhal
© Doc White / naturepl.com / WWF
Climate change
Narwhal prefer areas with high-density pack ice as one of their habitats and search for cracks in the ice to breathe. Climate change has contributed to more unpredictable weather patterns where intense cold suddenly freezes water, often where warm and cold water masses mix together. These sudden freeze events can entrap narwhal under the ice and prevent them from breathing. Large numbers of narwhals may succumb to these ice entrapment events.
Underwater noise and shipping
Narwhal are very skittish when it comes to noise. Increased boat traffic, seismic expiration, ice breaking, fishing and other forms of underwater noise pollution can disturb narwhal populations.
Pollution
Narwhals have high levels of some pollutants and heavy metals, such as mercury. Scientists have found that this can affect the health status of some narwhal populations.
Overexploitation
Narwhal have been traditionally hunted for a long time and provide a critical source of food in some remote communities. Finding ways to conserve narwhal populations for future generations while meeting the needs of people today is a complex task.
Currently, Greenland’s government is facing the challenge of bringing together multiple knowledge systems to inform decisions. But maintaining abundant populations of narwhals throughout Greenland is essential for a healthy, balanced ecosystem, healthy people and lasting cultural identity—something everyone can agree on.
What is WWF doing for narwhals?
© www.naturepl.com
Arctic blue corridors
Like all whales, narwhals do not recognize borders. WWF is advocating for whales to have the space to migrate between different habitats important for their survival. WWF is calling on Arctic states, the Arctic Council, International Maritime Organization, World Shipping Council, shipping industry and shipping companies for action to give migrating whales space to adapt to the rapidly changing Arctic Ocean and make their blue corridors safe from risks and impacts caused by shipping.
© WWF Global Arctic Programme
ArcNet
ArcNet, an Arctic Ocean Network of Priority Areas for Conservation, is a readymade framework that outlines key areas for conservation across the entire Arctic Ocean. By designing a network of priority areas, ArcNet helps strengthen the resilience of Arctic biodiversity – providing space for beluga and other whales to live.
Our goal is to ensure the protection of 30 per cent of the Arctic Ocean by creating a network of Protected and Conserved Areas. This framework, complete with a map, a guide, tools and methods will help Arctic nations fulfil their commitments.
