Narwhals are iconic Arctic cetaceans whose welfare is increasingly threatened by sea ice loss and increased vessel traffic as the Arctic warms - their specialised ecology makes them highly vulnerable.
Narwhal welfare is acutely threatened by Arctic warming. Sea ice loss exposes narwhals to orca predation they evolved to avoid by retreating into pack ice. Ship strike risk increases as previously icebound routes open. Sonar and engine noise disrupts echolocation used for feeding and social communication. Narwhals show unusually high stress hormone responses to disturbance - one of the highest documented in any cetacean - suggesting pronounced welfare sensitivity. Conservation requires both climate action and strict regulation of Arctic vessel traffic in narwhal habitats.