Narwhals are a coveted hunting prey in many parts of the Arctic. This is because, in addition to meat, the skin is also important for the nutrition of the population, as it is an important source of vitamin C. But since the animals are highly endangered, they should...
Belugas occur circumpolar in the Arctic with about 22 subpopulations. Some of them migrate regularly depending on the season, while others stay more or less in the same area all year round. Most populations always migrate from their wintering grounds to the same...
The bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) belongs to the family Balaenidae, grows up to 18 meters long and lives exclusively in Arctic waters. It can reach an age of over 200 years. The bowhead whale has a layer of fat up to 70 cm thick, which protects it from the icy...
The tusks of narwhal bulls are imposing tools with their length of up to 3 meters. For a long time it was not clear what they were for. Today we know that they are not only a dominance feature but also a sensory organ in the darkness of the Arctic Ocean. The teeth are...
Narwhals are increasingly under stress due to the growing shipping traffic. (Foto: Heiner Kubny) Researchers have found evidence that the ever-increasing shipping traffic along Baffin Island puts narwhals under stress. Moreover, narwhals are also threatened in their...