Narwhals: The Mysterious Creatures Facing the Perils of Vanishing Sea Ice

The narwhal is one of the most fascinating and elusive creatures on the planet—often described as a real-life “unicorn of the sea.” With its long, spiraled tusk extending from its head, the narwhal looks like a blend between a whale and a mythical creature. Most males grow this tusk, and in rare cases, some even have two. The tusk, which can reach up to 10 feet in length, is actually a modified tooth. Recent research, including studies supported by WWF, suggests that the tusk is more than just decorative. It contains up to 10 million nerve endings, making it a highly sensitive organ that may help narwhals detect changes in their environment. It’s also believed that the tusk plays a role in displays of dominance among males. 

Narwhals live year-round in the cold, Arctic waters surrounding Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. Most of the global narwhal population spends the winter months—up to five at a time—beneath the sea ice in the Baffin Bay-Davis Strait region, between Canada and western Greenland. They rely on cracks in the ice to surface and breathe, especially after deep dives that can reach depths of over a mile. Their diet mainly consists of Greenland halibut, but they also eat other fish, squid, and shrimp.