Gray whales make the longest mammal migration on Earth and face multiple welfare threats including subsistence hunting, entanglement, and climate-driven prey changes.
Gray whale welfare illustrates how climate change, historical depletion, and cultural traditions interact in complex ways. The successful recovery of Eastern Pacific gray whales demonstrates that meaningful protection can reverse catastrophic population decline. However, recent unusual mortality events showing emaciated animals suggest Arctic prey changes are causing nutritional stress. The ongoing subsistence harvest by Indigenous communities is governed by traditional practices and international quotas that attempt to balance cultural rights with conservation. Welfare considerations for individual whales experiencing prolonged starvation are significant, particularly for calves unable to complete migration in good condition.