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NRLD - 96409 | Delphinapterus leucas

Assessment ID
96409
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
Western Hudson 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 appears to be relatively abundant, although it has not been surveyed for 15 years and may consist of more than one population. The population is subject to substantial removals by hunting in parts of its range, and is potentially threatened by shipping and hydroelectric dams.; La population semble relativement abondante, bien qu'elle n'ait pas fait l'objet de recensements depuis 15 ans et qu'elle pourrait être composée de plus d'une population. La population est l'objet d'une chasse substantielle dans certaines parties de son aire de répartition et elle est possiblement menacée par le transport maritime et les barrages hydroélectriques.
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
Yes
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Nunavut; Manitoba; Ontario; Arctic Ocean; Atlantic 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
The Western Hudson Bay population (original) was designated Not at Risk in April 1993. In May 2004, the structure of the population was redefined: the Southeast Baffin Island animals (formerly part of the Southeast Baffin Island-Cumberland Sound populatio.; La population de l'ouest de la baie d'Hudson (désignation initiale) a été désignée ' non en péril ' en avril 1993. En mai 2004, la structure de la population a été redéfinie : les individus du sud-est de l'à®le de Baffin (appartenant autrefois à la population du sud-est de l'à®le de Baffin et de la baie Cumberland) ont été ajoutés à la population de l'ouest de la baie d'Hudson. En mai 2004, la population de l'ouest de la baie d'Hudson a été désignée ' préoccupante '.
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