Rice's whale

How it was counted

The figure comes from surveys of the northeastern Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico), which NOAA Fisheries reports as about 50 animals, with no range given. It covers that area only: NOAA Fisheries also reports the whales in the western Gulf and in Mexican waters.

This is an estimate from surveys, published without a range, so read it as about 50 animals rather than exactly 50.

What moves it

NOAA Fisheries lists vessel strikes, noise from shipping and energy exploration, oil spills, getting tangled in fishing gear, swallowing and getting tangled in marine debris, and climate change, including its effect on prey. The agency adds that low genetic diversity, a small population and a restricted range leave the whale more exposed to each of these.

• vessel strikes. Vessel strikes Source: NOAA Fisheries.
• noise from shipping and energy exploration. Noise from vessels and energy exploration Source: NOAA Fisheries.
• oil spills. Oil spills and other pollutants, including lingering effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Source: NOAA Fisheries.
• entanglement in fishing gear. Entanglement in fishing gear Source: NOAA Fisheries.
• swallowing and getting tangled in marine debris. Ingestion of and entanglement in marine debris Source: NOAA Fisheries.
• climate change, including its effect on prey. Climate change, including its effect on prey Source: NOAA Fisheries.
• low genetic diversity, a small population and a restricted range, which leave it more exposed to every other threat. The Rice’s whale’s low genetic diversity, small population size, and restricted range increase its vulnerability to threats Source: NOAA Fisheries.

The next count

The count schedule is irregular, and no date for the next count is known (last checked 12 November 2026).

Sources

• NOAA Fisheries Last checked 12 November 2026.

What changed

• 12 November 2026 Added to Live Species, on the wall (1,000 or fewer): About 50 (Estimate, no range, 2018).

Every change on the site