To continue the protection of the region's beluga whales, which number at only around 350, US District Court Federal Judge Royce C. Lambeth denies a request from the state of Alaska as he upholds a previous ruling that maintains the whale's endangered status.

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/nov2011/2011-11-22-092.html  
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/22/cook-inlet-beluga-whales-endangered_n_1107381.html?ref=green