Sonic Blasts from Oil Exploration Threaten Critically Endangered Rice's Whales in the Gulf of Mexico

Summary

This article explores the critical situation of Rice's whales in the Gulf of Mexico, with fewer than 100 individuals remaining. It highlights how sonic blasts from air guns used in oil and gas exploration — which overlap in frequency with the whales' communication calls — pose a major threat to the species' survival. The piece combines audio recordings, visual storytelling, and reporting to illustrate the impact of underwater noise pollution on this endangered whale population.