This season’s minke whales caught in the Barents Sea are notably underweight, with experienced whalers and marine scientists observing unusually thin blubber layers and visible ribs.

Researchers on Buldir Island have discovered dead and sick seabirds, including crested auklets and black-legged kittiwakes, exhibiting symptoms consistent with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, such as unusual behavior and hemorrhages, marking a concerning event in this remote Aleutian location.