Animal of the week

Scientists have discovered that narwhals are at risk from new shipping routes through the Arctic. A team found that shipping traffic on the Arctic’s Northern Sea Route and the Northwest Passage affected the narwhals’ ability to communicate, hunt and navigate their environment.

LIFESPAN IN THE WILD: Up to 50 years.

HABITAT: Found in the waters around the Arctic and North Atlantic Ocean.

DIET: Fish, prawn and squid gathered during dives that can last up to 20 minutes.

FUN FACT: Nicknamed the unicorns of the sea, the male narwhal is famous for its tusk, which can grow between 1.5 and 2.7 metres long.