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U.S. Deploys Thermal Cameras to Track Declining Bay Whales

5/20/2026

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Summary

Story summary

U.S. unveiled a thermal-camera system in San Francisco Bay on May 19, 2026 to detect gray whales.
Cameras on Angel Island and ferry detect whales up to 7 km away via AI that reads 2 °C warmer heat, with a WhaleSpotter researcher confirming detections before alerts.
Loss of ice reduces amphipod food, driving whales into the bay, causing 21 deaths in 2025 and lowering gray-whale numbers from 20,500 in 2018 to 14,500 in 2023.

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Story summary

U.S. unveiled a thermal-camera system in San Francisco Bay on May 19, 2026 to detect gray whales.
Cameras on Angel Island and ferry detect whales up to 7 km away via AI that reads 2 °C warmer heat, with a WhaleSpotter researcher confirming detections before alerts.
Loss of ice reduces amphipod food, driving whales into the bay, causing 21 deaths in 2025 and lowering gray-whale numbers from 20,500 in 2018 to 14,500 in 2023.