Blue Whale Population
Population Count of the Blue Whale
It is estimated that there are about
8,000-14,000 blue whales worldwide, which makes them an
endangered species. These whales (and many other large whales)
were over-hunted for many years, since their meat, oil, and
other body parts are very valuable. Since whale hunting has
decreased in the last few decades, their populations are
starting to recover.
Blue Whale IUCN Status:
· 1960's - 1994:
Endangered
· 1996 - 2004:
Endangered
Current Satus:
The blue whale was
too swift and powerful for the 19th century whalers to hunt,
but with the arrival of harpoon cannons, they became a much
sought after species for their large amounts of blubber. The
killing reached a peak in 1931 when 29,649 blue whales were
taken. By 1966, blues were so scarce that the International
Whaling Commission declared them protected throughout the
world. Today, there are probably fewer than 15,000 blue whales
in the oceans, and they are considered an endangered species.
However, we can see them in the summer and fall off the central
California coast, feeding in such places as the Gulf of the
Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries. The
2,000 blue whales that feed along the California coast make up
the largest concentration of blue whales in the world.
Trends in the Blue Whale Population - Population
Estimates:
· WORLD
o Before whaling: About 275,000
(Kemf & Phillips 1994)
o 1930's: 30,000 - 40,000 (IUCN
1966)
o 1962: 930 - 2790 (IUCN
1966)
o 1964: 650 - 2000 (Oryx
1964a)
o Late 1970's: 4000 - 4500
(Burton & Pearson 1987)
o 1980: About 6500 (Nowak &
Paradiso 1983)
o 1990: 2500 - 3000 (Klinowska
1991)
o 1994: Probably under 5000
(Kemf & Phillips 1994)
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