Join Dr. Jim Darling for an update on the status of Eastern North Pacific grey whales following the recently concluded Unusual Mortality Event (UME). Beginning in 2019, the UME marked a significant decline in grey whale numbers, with hundreds of strandings recorded along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico. Although the event was officially declared over in 2023, questions remain about the population’s recovery and long-term outlook.
Tickets: Button Event, $10 adults, $5 children. Buttons get you access to all events throughout the week.
Suitable for: Adults and students. Young children are welcome but the material presented goes beyond an introductory level and may be best suited for older students and adults.
In this presentation, Dr. Jim Darling will share the latest findings from scientists Dr. Steve Swartz, Dr. Jorge Urban and Dr. Sue Moore; researchers on the ground who have been closely monitoring calf production, body condition, and overall whale numbers. Recent observations point to continued challenges, including low reproductive rates and fewer mother-calf pairs than historically observed.
This talk was first presented live at Whale Tales, for Whale Trust.
About the Speaker
Dr. Jim Darling is a marine biologist with more than four decades of experience studying whales, particularly gray whales of the North Pacific. He is a co-founder of the research and education organization Whale Trust and has led long-term whale research programs throughout the Pacific. His work focuses on whale behavior, population monitoring, and conservation science, and he is widely recognized for his decades-long commitment to understanding and protecting grey whales.
