Is the Blue Whale close to extinct?

No Bowhead Whales are not extinct. Extinct means there are none left, they have all died and no more are going to be born.

If you are asking if they are at risk for going extinct then the answer depends on who you talk to.

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, which is composed of scientists, says as of April 2009 that both the Bering-Chukchi Beaufort and Eastern Canada-West Greenland populations are of Special Concern. This means there is some risk of becoming extinct but it is not imminent.

On the other hand, many Inuit in Nunavut, where hunting the Bowhead Whale is traditional, would claim that the species is making a strong comeback and not at risk of extinction.