Hi John,

Fran, a humpback whale in the prime of life, was known for her tail pattern and for delighting scientists and tourists alike in Monterey Bay. But recently she was struck by a ship.

Her body, with a broken neck, washed ashore last week.

This tragedy could have been averted — so we've taken legal action to protect endangered whales.

Please help by giving to the Saving Life on Earth Fund.

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Fran topped the list of California humpback whale sightings. Humpbacks usually live 45 to 50 years, so her untimely death at 17 is a blow to science — and to her calf, who was just born last fall.

It's hoped that the calf — a female — had begun weaning from her mother, but her fate is so far unknown.

Fran's death was avoidable. The Center for Biological Diversity has sued the U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA Fisheries to force them to do more for these humpbacks under the Endangered Species Act.

The Act requires the government to consider all the ways it can protect an endangered species — but these ocean agencies don't take ship strikes into account.

Officially, 49 humpback whales died from ship strikes between 2007 and 2020 — and the actual tally is likely much higher.

We know what needs to be done to protect the whales. Shipping lanes should be moved farther from where they like to eat. And there should be stricter rules mandating speed limits where collisions with whales are probable.

We'll be in court soon fighting for these whales' lives.

The extinction crisis threatens to wipe out 1 million animals and plants in the coming decades. We'll do all we can to save humpback whales and so many other species who are struggling to survive. It's why we exist, and we need you with us.

Please support our fight for whales with a gift to the Saving Life on Earth Fund.

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For the wild,

Kierán Suckling
Executive Director
Center for Biological Diversity

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