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NRLD - 96463 | Monodon monoceros

Assessment ID
96463
Taxon name
Monodon monoceros
Linnaeus, 1758
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Monodon monoceros
Linnaeus, 1758
Common name(s)
Narwhal (English), Narval (Français)
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Mammals
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
chordata
Class
mammalia
Order
cetacea
Family
monodontidae
Genus
Monodon
Species
monoceros
Species authority
Linnaeus, 1758
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 Baffin Bay population appears to be large (~45,000), although there is uncertainty about numbers, trends, life history parameters, and levels of sustainable hunting. There is similar uncertainty about the much smaller Hudson Bay population (~2,100 mature individuals). Hunting for maktak and the commercially valuable tusk ivory represents the most consistent threat to narwhals. Potential effects of changes in ice coverage caused by climate trends are unknown. The Hudson Bay population could decline by 30% in 30 years if hunting is not closely regulated. Similarly, the Baffin Bay population could be affected if hunting in Greenland is not effectively managed. Numbers removed by hunting increased during the 1990s. Community-based management is monitoring hunting and is attempting to regulate removals. Reliable information about numbers that are killed and not recovered is difficult to obtain.; La population de la baie de Baffin semble grande (environ 45 000 individus), bien qu'il y ait des incertitudes quant au nombre d'individus, aux tendances et à certains paramètres du cycle biologique, ainsi qu'au nombre de prises pour assurer une chasse à des niveaux durables. Il y a aussi des incertitudes pour ce qui est de la population beaucoup plus petite de la baie d'Hudson (environ 2100 individus matures). La chasse pour le maktak et l'ivoire, qui a une grande valeur sur le marché, représente une menace des plus constantes pour le narval. Les effets éventuels du changement dans la couverture de glace, causé par les tendances climatiques, sont inconnus. La population de la baie d'Hudson pourrait connaà®tre un déclin de 30 p. 100 en 30 ans si la chasse ne fait pas l'objet d'une réglementation stricte. De façon semblable, la population de la baie de Baffin pourrait être touchée par la chasse au Groenland si elle n'est pas gérée efficacement. Le nombre d'individus tués par la chasse a augmenté au cours des années 1990. La gestion par les communautés permet de surveiller la chasse et de trouver des solutions pour réglementer les prises. Une information fiable sur le nombre d'individus tués et non récupérés est difficile à obtenir.
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)
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
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 Not at Risk in April 1986 and in April 1987. Status re-examined and designated Special Concern in November 2004.; Espèce désignée ' non en péril ' en avril 1986 et en avril 1987. Réexamen du statut : l'espèce a été désignée ' préoccupante ' en novembre 2004.
Publication
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