Beluga whale now an endangered species
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The federal government put Beluga whales that live in Alaska's Cook Inlet on the endangered species list today. That's despite attempts by Alaska's governor Sarah Palin to keep the species from receiving additional protection.
Since the 1990s the beluga whale's population has shrunk by half. Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have counted just 375 whales in the last two years.
Belugas are small and white with a rounded forehead. According to the National Geographic they normally live in pods and live in Arctic coastal waters. Scientists say attempts to protect the animals and increase their population have not worked.
Republican Governor and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin has been opposed to the listing because restrictions for the sake of the species's welfare will make it more difficult to drill for oil in coastal waters.
[via NY Times]
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