Sperm whales are the deepest-diving mammals on Earth, capable of descending over 3,000 meters in search of giant squid, but face serious welfare threats from entanglement in fishing gear and ocean noise pollution.
Entanglement in fishing gear causes severe suffering for sperm whales, with individuals sometimes dragging gear for months before dying from exhaustion or injury. Their deep-diving physiology makes entanglement particularly dangerous as they cannot surface freely. Ocean noise pollution disrupts their sophisticated communication and echolocation systems, potentially causing long-term disruption to foraging, social bonds, and navigation across vast ocean distances.