Environment

Alaska will sue over beluga whale protection ruling

by Amy Judd | January 14, 2009 at 03:44 pm

260 views | 12 Recommendations | 5 comments

Alaska has said that it will sue the federal government over the decision to protect Beluga Whales under the Endangered Species Act.

The state of Alaska wants the government to withdraw the decision to list the species as threatened.

Gov. Sarah Palin has said she opposes the listing of the Cook Inlet belugas because of the effect it could have on development. The city of Anchorage is on Cook Inlet.

The population of the white whales in the inlet has been declining for years and is estimated at fewer than 300.

Scientists say if nothing changes the Cook Inlet whales are headed toward extinction.

The government listing does not apply to belugas elsewhere around Alaska and the Arctic.

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stellanicholson

at 23:07 on January 14th, 2009

Taken at the Vancouver Aquarium.
Stella Nicholson

stellanicholson has contributed a photo to this story.

Paschen

at 01:35 on January 15th, 2009

Well, With Japan and Alaska as well as Norway being so stubborn and refusing to stop the Hunt, plus pollution of the Oceans and man made climate changes I would say with in 5 to 10 years we will have exterminated half off all whale species.

Andy Snappy

at 05:32 on January 15th, 2009

There is nothing like the beluga in world and everything possible should be done to protect these fantastic creatures.

Andy Snappy has contributed a photo to this story.

Yuliya Talmazan

at 08:19 on January 15th, 2009

this is very sad

Renessa Busby (not verified)

at 18:24 on January 15th, 2009

thanks for the story and thanks for using my photo...its sad to see that some people don't really care about the protection of our animals. i'd like to see us all do what we can to make sure these animals are stilll on this planet for generations to come.