[SuperLuminal]

If it is a "new" whale species, how did they learn about an imminent extinction... Where is the historical data???

BS!
Probably used a "hockey stick" curve on a graph...

[alexander_busek]

If it is a "new" whale species, how did they learn about an imminent extinction... Where is the historical data???

As the excerpt explains, an already-known and non-endangered species has now been split - by the taxonomists - into two new species.

Due to the split, the new species is now not so numerous - thus endangered.

Regards,