Have you ever heard of the 'Rice Whale'? It's only been about three years since it got its name, so many people may be unfamiliar with it. The Rice Whale was previously classified as a subspecies of the Bryde's Whale, but in 2021, it was reborn as a new species through research by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States.

This Rice Whale, which is about 13 meters long and weighs a whopping 27 tons, was unfortunately classified as an endangered species just a year after its new name was given. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the current population of adult Rice Whales is estimated at 26. Experts believe that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 is what caused the Rice Whale population to decline so drastically.

On April 20, 2010, an explosion occurred at the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. The explosion occurred due to engine overload, and although firefighters were dispatched, the rig sank 36 hours after the explosion. The drilling pipe fell sideways, leading to a massive oil spill. The accident occurred in April, but it wasn't until September 19 that the hole through which the oil was leaking was completely sealed, taking about five months. During that time, a large amount of oil spilled into the ocean, causing significant damage to marine life in the vicinity.

The Rice Whale is one of the marine animals that was affected by this accident. The Gulf of Mexico, where the Rice Whale lives, was the site of this accident, making the impact particularly severe. The Rice Whale had not yet been given its name at the time, so the exact extent of the damage is unknown, but experts estimate that the Deepwater Horizon accident resulted in a decline of about 22% in the Rice Whale population.

The Rice Whale has been listed as critically endangered (CR) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This means that it is highly likely to face extinction in the future. NOAA is working hard to prevent the extinction of the Rice Whale.

Large whales like the Rice Whale are more likely to collide with ships. Due to their nature, whales need to surface to breathe, which increases the risk of collisions with ships. NOAA recommends that large ships take steps to avoid collisions with whales, such as limiting ship speed and adjusting shipping routes. NOAA also points out the problem of ocean noise that interferes with the communication of whales who use sound waves to communicate. If the ocean noise problem becomes severe, it can not only limit the communication of whales but also cause stress, making it an urgent issue that needs to be addressed. NOAA has revised guidelines for assessing anthropogenic noise that affects marine mammals.

Furthermore, NOAA is also working to rescue animals in distress, perform health checkups, and conduct research on the causes of problems. NOAA is also playing a role in raising public awareness and educating people about the dangers faced by marine life, including the Rice Whale.

There are now only 26 Rice Whales left. Let's hope we can keep this name for a long time.