Blue whales, “the largest animals ever known to have lived on Earth, are currently classified as endangered on the World Conservation Union Red List.” (National Geographic) Blue whales are magnificent creatures who live in harmony with humans; however, the rise of population and needs have drastically crippled the whale population. Whales will soon be added on to the list of species the human race have brutally wiped out, unless we as humans take action to conserve this noble species.
Blue whales are mammals, more specifically pods. They grow to 82-105 feet and weigh up to 200 tons. On average, they live 80-90 years. Their carnivorous diet is composed nearly exclusively of tiny shrimp like animals called krill. “Blue whales are found in temperate …show more content…
“They are primarily threatened by ship strikes, noise and chemical pollution. Their IUCN status is Endangered worldwide, with some populations such as the Antarctic blue whale considered Critically Endangered.” (WDC) Whales are susceptible to entanglement in commercial fishing gear. This can slow whales down, weakening them, and can prohibit them from feeding leading to eventual starvation and death. Commercial whaling began in the 1800's and nearly drove some whale species to extinction. Some species have still not recovered from being hunted and are currently listed as endangered. Whale habitat and migration corridors overlap with areas of heavy ship traffic. Cargo ships, cruise ships, and tankers are almost always lethal when they strike a whale. In some areas, reduced speeds have been implemented where interaction between ship traffic and whales is most likely to occur. Also, pollution plays a huge role on the survivability of blue whales. “Industrial waste and litter pollute the sea, including plastic debris, which can float in thewater for some time. A whale may mistake it for food, swallow it, and get a blocked gut as a result. The animal then starves to death.” (Whales: Giants of the Deep) The majority of the threats blue whales select are linked to
Blue whales are mammals, more specifically pods. They grow to 82-105 feet and weigh up to 200 tons. On average, they live 80-90 years. Their carnivorous diet is composed nearly exclusively of tiny shrimp like animals called krill. “Blue whales are found in temperate …show more content…
“They are primarily threatened by ship strikes, noise and chemical pollution. Their IUCN status is Endangered worldwide, with some populations such as the Antarctic blue whale considered Critically Endangered.” (WDC) Whales are susceptible to entanglement in commercial fishing gear. This can slow whales down, weakening them, and can prohibit them from feeding leading to eventual starvation and death. Commercial whaling began in the 1800's and nearly drove some whale species to extinction. Some species have still not recovered from being hunted and are currently listed as endangered. Whale habitat and migration corridors overlap with areas of heavy ship traffic. Cargo ships, cruise ships, and tankers are almost always lethal when they strike a whale. In some areas, reduced speeds have been implemented where interaction between ship traffic and whales is most likely to occur. Also, pollution plays a huge role on the survivability of blue whales. “Industrial waste and litter pollute the sea, including plastic debris, which can float in thewater for some time. A whale may mistake it for food, swallow it, and get a blocked gut as a result. The animal then starves to death.” (Whales: Giants of the Deep) The majority of the threats blue whales select are linked to