Have you ever heard of Rice's whales? Rice's whales are one of the most endangered whale species in the world — only around 50 individuals remain. These outsized mammals, reaching sizes of up to 60,000 pounds and 41 feet in length, reside entirely in the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, they're the only resident baleen whale in the Gulf and are completely dependent on the Gulf ecosystem to survive. With that dependency comes vulnerability. These whales are extremely vulnerable to ship strikes, noise pollution and the threat of oil spills from offshore drilling. They're one of the many marvelous species that the Center works to protect. And, if you happen to be near Pensacola Beach this Saturday March 7, stop by the Gulf Coast Whale Festival to learn more about these amazing rare whales. 🐳 [Image description: A Rice's whale swims near the ocean surface. The water is a deep blue, and the whale's full streamlined body is visible. The full image is broken into three images to show ...