WWF charity efforts to save one of the world’s most endangered whales are looking up as Sakhalin Energy agreed to suspend planned seismic testing in their crucial feeding area. The Western Grey Whale, with only 35 breeding females, feed only in the summer, with it’s primary feeding area at the north eastern part of Sakhalin, just off the shore of Russia.

The future of the whales still remains in the balance though, as other companies oil and energy companies have ignored repeated calls to cooperate with the Western Grey Whale Advisory Panel. Having presented the companies with statistics that reveal a significant decline in sightings and behaviour changes of the whales in their primary feeding area. Oil and gas exploration activities appear to have moved the whales to deeper areas offshore, making it more difficult for whale calves to feed.

WWF-UK’s Species Officer, Heather Sohl, said:

That Sakhalin Energy have now realised the severity of the situation and agreed to suspend its activities is definitely a step in the right direction – it also demonstrates that collaborative science based initiatives like this panel process can succeed, even on issues as complex as oil and gas development. However, other major operators in the area – including major international giants BP and Exxon – have completely ignored pleas to join the panel, disregarded advice on how to mitigate the impacts of their activities, and refused to provide even basic information on what their activities are in the region. Their lack of engagement could have disastrous consequences for the whales.

There are now only 130 Western Grey Whales thought to remain in the world, and this number will continue to dwindle if the energy and oil companies do not commit to helping the endangered species. With the whales now featuring on the endangered list, Russia can now impose obligations for the special protection of such species and their habitats. If the companies do not agree to minimise thier activities around Sakhalin, there actions could lead to population decline, habitat destruction, and fatally lead to the extinction of the western grey whale all together.

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