The white whales of Cook Inlet.
Cook Inlet belugas are a genetically distinct population isolated for over 10,000 years. They are the only belugas that live year-round in the shadow of a major American city.
Population History
Compounding Threats
Noise Pollution
Ship traffic and seismic surveys disrupt echolocation and foraging.
Prey Availability
Salmon and eulachon runs are critical to summer feeding success.
Habitat Loss
Industrial development along Knik and Turnagain Arms reduces usable range.
Strandings
Extreme tides and mudflats make Cook Inlet uniquely hazardous.
A federal recovery plan, locally executed.
NOAA Fisheries finalized the Cook Inlet beluga recovery plan in 2016. The Beluga Whale Alliance contributes the citizen science backbone — shore observations, photo-ID matching, and outreach that no federal budget could fund alone.
Sourcing follows NOAA Fisheries conservation guidance.