The National Red List Project

Please note, this National Red List website contains a subset of data whilst we transition to national focal point driven data uploads. We thank you for your patience with this and welcome national contributors to get in touch to update their national dataset. Terms of Use including citation guidance are found here.

The previous dataset is available via: https://archive.nationalredlist.org/. This site is no longer updated but can help with most enquiries whilst we focus on redevelopment.

NRLD - 96369 | Delphinapterus leucas

Assessment ID
96369
Taxon name
Delphinapterus leucas
Pallas, 1776
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Delphinapterus leucas
Pallas, 1776
Common name(s)
Beluga Whale (English), Béluga (Français)
Assessed taxon level
Population
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Mammals
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
chordata
Class
mammalia
Order
cetacea
Family
monodontidae
Genus
Delphinapterus
Species
leucas
Species authority
Pallas, 1776
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
Eastern High Arcti - Baffin Bay population
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
Canada
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
Canada
Country ISO code(s)
CAN
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Assessed as
Special Concern; Préoccupante
Criteria system used
Modified IUCN

(see Assessment details)

Assessment rationale/justification
The population overwinters in Baffin Bay and west Greenland and may consist of two distinct populations. It is heavily hunted in west Greenland. However, most of the population winters in Baffin Bay and the high Arctic where it is not hunted. Hunting pressure in Canadian waters is low in summer.; La population hiverne dans la baie de Baffin et à l'ouest du Groenland et pourrait être composée de deux populations distinctes. Elle est chassée intensivement dans l'ouest du Groenland. Cependant, la plupart des individus de la population hivernent dans la baie de Baffin et le Haut-Arctique, o๠ils ne sont pas chassés. Les pressions exercées par la chasse dans les eaux canadiennes sont faibles l'été.
Assessment details
Year assessed
2004
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Environment Canada.
Criteria system used
Modified IUCN
Reference for methods given
COSEWIC- Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (2004)
URL (link) of redlist assessment or publication
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/wildlife-plants-species/species-risk.html
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Nunavut; Arctic Ocean
Is there a map available in assessment?
Not_assigned
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Terrestrial
Not_assigned
Freshwater
Not_assigned
Marine
Not_assigned
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
No information available
History
Designated Special Concern in April 1992. Status re-examined and confirmed in May 2004.; Espèce désignée ' préoccupante ' en avril 1992. Réexamen et confirmation du statut en mai 2004.
Publication
COSEWIC- Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (2004)
COSEWIC. 2004. Canadian Wildlife Species at Risk. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Web site: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/wildlife-plants-species/species-risk.html