Some 200 000 blue whales once swam the oceans of the world. Its enormous size was its downfall; the blue whale was sought out by whalers for the tremendous quantities of oil and meat that it provided. The blue whales of the Northwest Atlantic appear to be having difficulty recovering from the intensive hunting of the first half of the XX Century. Even though it is no longer hunted, other threats still weigh heavily against the recovery of this species. Less than 250 mature blue whales remain in the Northwest Atlantic. In 2002, considering the reduced numbers of blue whales in the Northwest Atlantic and low calving and recruitment rates, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) granted this population the highest status level: that of “endangered”. The blue whale is also on the United States’ endangered species list by virtue of its own Endangered Species Act.
An estimated 4,900 to 6,000 blue whales inhabited the northern Pacific Ocean prior to whaling. Between 1910 and 1966, approximately 8,200 were killed in the North Pacific, severely reducing the population. The North Pacific population is now estimated at 1,200 to 1,700 animals; the worldwide population is estimated at 8,000 to 12,000.
Scientists do not know whether the number of blue whales is increasing or decreasing, but whale sightings have increased since the end of whaling. No human activities in the North Pacific, other than whaling, are known to have affected the species. Therefore, other management actions are unlikely to contribute substantially to recovery.
this is so true i feel so sorry for this mammals they r so nice
Blue Whales Are Amazing Creatures, The Beauty Of Them Just Takes My Breath Away. I Wish There Were More Of Them Around And I Really Don’t Want Them To Go Extinct. They Are Amazing As The Are So Big But Move So Gracefully. xx
i reaaly like whales i fink they are so cute
Dear,World widelife news could you please send me the most endangered animal.
Mammels are adorable and it’s cruel for whaling! I’m doing a project on Blue whales!
i just like the beauty of them. i am like a whale nerd. the sight of t
i like the whale bcause it is blue and beautiful and educational.
As my friend Aaliyah Nichols says they are beautiful. The thing i like most about them is the noise they make.
like my friend sharrickka smith wales are the best animals you can imagine.
they are cute!!!!!!!!1
i think blue wales are so cool they are huge and i think that they would be amazing to research about you can see how big they are by looking at the pictures from google standing next to one of them would make you look small… but they are amazing!
it is so sad to hear that number of whales are diminshing at the rapid rate!!
some measures need to be taken to preserve them!!
Thats not fair to the blue whale. What if they did that to us.
these r really amazing creaturs
blue whales suck
this is great, i love this i want to marry the person who wrote this essay!!!!!
i love the cats and my phone is: 5558793
im a single mother with 2 childs, if anyone is interested you know my phone!(5558793)
well i just luuuuve these animals i look at the mall the times
this is so chillan. blue whales are soo coooool ! sucks thier endangered. this helped my project.
i Fudged a blue whale befor
blue whales are awesome!!!!!!Once me and my brother was on a boat at Northwest Atlantic and a blue whale splashed water on him and there was a fish on his head and he started screaming and fell off the boat!!
(he was saved by a life guard)
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