Have you heard about Rice's whales? They are a great whale species found only in the gulf of Mexico. They were only identified in 2021, but are already highly endangered with only 51 individuals remaining. There have been excessive delays in protecting this species and their habitat. NOAA has blocked efforts to institute regulations on ship speeds and underwater sound levels that could make the difference in whether or not this species survives.

This was a fantastic article- I find myself very invested in these whales now, both for their own sake as well as the significance this will have on our shared futures on Earth. I am sharing a few highlights in the pics below, but it is also absolutely worth reading in it's entirety. There's a quote in here from a senator who sounds like an absolute cartoon villain, a parody of greed and corruption.
https://www.npr.org/2023/11/16/1212690111/only-51-of-these-u-s-whales-remain-little-has-been-done-to-prevent-their-extinct