Endangered species face many threats, but thanks to protections under the Endangered Species Act, some are showing signs of recovery. For Endangered Species Day, we’re highlighting a few success stories.
By the Numbers: 2026 North Atlantic Right Whale Calving Season
Each fall through spring, North Atlantic right whales give birth in the shallow, coastal waters of the Southeast. This calving season, 23 calves were born—the highest number since 2009! Throughout the season, there were approximately 500 sightings of 129 right whales in the Southeast. Seeing such a large portion of the population in the calving grounds suggests reproductive health is improving, potentially moving the species toward more positive recovery trends.
Read more about the 2026 calving season
Most Sea Turtles Rebounding Worldwide as Conservation Efforts Protect Nests and Habitat, Analysis Finds
Once significantly harmed by harvest and habitat loss, sea turtles have persevered with new protections and conservation efforts. Their populations are now rebounding even as ocean conditions change, a recent review found.
“When I think of sea turtles, the first word that comes to mind is resilience. They are sensitive because they depend on the marine ecosystem, but give them a chance to thrive and they will take advantage of it.” —Jeffrey Seminoff, research scientist at NOAA Fisheries’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center
Learn more about the status of sea turtles
A Substantial Reduction in Hawaiian Monk Seal Entanglement
For decades, field biologists working in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands have helped Hawaiian monk seals entangled in derelict fishing gear and other plastics. After they started cleaning up the marine debris in the water of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, entanglements dropped—by as much as 70 percent on some islands.
Read about the success of the cleanup efforts
Most Threatened and Endangered Pacific Coast Salmon Populations Increased After Listings
Endangered Species Act protections are moving salmon toward recovery. Most listed Pacific Coast salmon and steelhead have increased in abundance over the past 25 years, arresting earlier declines. None disappeared into extinction. Protected population groups also increased faster than unprotected populations of the same species.
Learn how protections have helped salmon recover
Recovering Endangered Indo-Pacific Leatherback Turtles
NOAA, World Wildlife Fund United States, and World Wildlife Fund Indonesia have been working to conserve leatherback sea turtles in the Indo-Pacific Ocean since 2017. Together, we have encouraged locally driven conservation efforts and supported community monitoring and data gathering at nesting beaches. This partnership has reduced the number of leatherback turtles and nests taken for consumption in the Kei Islands, Indonesia, by 85 percent.
Read more about international efforts to research and protect leatherback turtles
