California Blue Whales Bounce Back From Whaling

[Playinghardball]

Measuring some 30 meters (100 feet) in length and weighing in at a whopping 200 tons (181 metric), blue whales are the largest animals on Earth. In fact, they’re the heaviest animals to have ever lived on our planet, weighing more than the largest known dinosaur. Unfortunately, these iconic whales are an endangered species. They were aggressively hunted to the brink of extinction in the 1900s by whalers seeking their meat and oil. Between 1900 and the 1960s, it is estimated that around 360,000 blue whales were poached, mostly by Russian fleets.

Blue whales became protected in 1966, but since then their populations have only slightly recovered. Now, however, new research by scientists at the University of Washington suggests that California blue whales have bounced back. Remarkably, their population has now virtually returned to historical levels, making them the only population known to have rebounded from whaling.

“The recovery of California blue whales from whaling demonstrates the ability of blue whale populations to rebuild under careful management and conservation measures,” said Cole Monnahan, lead author of the Marine Mammal Science study, in a news release.

California blue whales, or eastern North Pacific (ENP) whales, range from the equator to the Gulf of Alaska. Previous work estimated that there are currently around 2,200 of these whales, which is 97% of the historical level, according to the new study. While that may seem unimpressive, considering 3,400 were caught from 1905-1971 compared to the 346,000 caught near Antarctica, it’s likely that their population was significantly smaller.

More here: http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/california-blue-whales-bounce-back-whaling

[ailsagirl]

1. This is great to hear!

Thanks for posting.

[closeupready]

2. Amazing creatures - watching "Earthflight" on PBS last week,

there was some really fascinating footage of whales off the west coast of Africa working in tandem with sharks and seabirds in feeding off schools of sardines. They seemingly were so big, they could swallow whole schools of fish, at once. K&R

[NYC_SKP]

3. Yay!

I saw three humpbacks from my tiny new place a few weeks ago, I still haven't recovered from the sighting.

We are tiny, yet so capable of fucking things up for the other species!

K/R

[Larkspur]

4. Great News! But worry Gobal Warming will devastate them

[MFM008]

5. terrific news

Just don't tell the Japanese or Icelanders.