The narwhal is an iconic Arctic cetacean whose long spiral tusk conceals complex sensory functions, with welfare threatened by sea ice loss, ship strikes, and hunting by Indigenous communities facing climate-disrupted ecosystems.
Narwhal welfare is significantly affected by sea ice dynamics. During sassats, when sea ice closes rapidly, trapped narwhals experience extreme panic and exhaustion as they compete for limited breathing holes, with survivors showing signs of acute stress. Responses to anthropogenic disturbance, including ships and seismic surveys, cause rapid cardiac and physiological responses disproportionate to those in other cetaceans, suggesting exceptional stress sensitivity. Indigenous subsistence hunting raises welfare considerations, though communities are working to develop more humane practices.