THE BLUE WHALEStatus: Endangered

About the Blue Whale

The blue whale is the largest animal to ever exist on this planet.

It weighs up to 136,400kg Blue whales usually travel alone or in a pairs The sound a blue whale makes can travel thousands of

miles in deep water. The blue whale is found in all major oceans. However, its

population has been severely depleted due to commercial whaling.

Where they are.

Found in the Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic and Indian Oceans. Three main populations persist: one in the southern hemisphere, one in the North Pacific and one in the North Atlantic.

Status

Blue whale was included in the IUCN Red List, in the year 1960 and still continues to be endangered.

•The total population has been depleted by at least 70%, and possibly as much as 90%, over the last three generations.

•The global population of the blue whale has been estimated at 10,000- 25,000 by the IUCN red list.

Hunting for research

•Japan has stated they are doing scientific research.

But what are they exactly researching?What journals have come out of Japan on whales?What theories do they have to offer? Why are we kept in the dark?And why is all this “research” ending up in restaurants?

•Due to the over hunting of whales this incredible creature has become endangered.

•Prior to man it has been estimated that 350,000 whales were in the worlds oceans.

The Truth

The Japanese whalers have claimed that they are hunting whales in order to collect “scientific research.”

It has been confirmed that this is fraud and that Scientific whaling has become a euphemism for illegal whaling for nothing but commercial use.

An international team of Oregon State University Scientists uncovered an illegal trade of whale meat. This so called research had been sent to sushi restaurants in Seoul, South Korea and Los Angeles.

Here are some of the things whales have been killed for:

•Animal feed•Cosmetics and toiletries. Including lipstick, soap and sun tan lotion•Perfume•Margarine•Machine oil•Waxes and polishes•Leather dressing•Candles and Crayons•Clothing

Other threats

Unfortunately it is not just the illegal whaling that is endangering the Blue whale. They also face other threats, such as:

•Entanglement in fishing nets•Pollution•Getting run over by ships

“Floating belly up in the Pacific, this is the unbelievable sight of the largest animal ever to have lived on Earth - killed by a passing ship.”

The Bad Guys

Tomohiro Akio

This photo was taken on June 17, 2010, at whale meat restaurant Magonotei. Manager Tomohiro Akio slices a chunk of lean meat of a whale caught in the Antarctic.

Makoto Ito, managing director of Kyodo Senpaku Co., the company that runs the annual Antarctic hunt, he said he didn't think they should stop whaling, because "we need to collect more data."

Photo of the Nisshan Maru- a Japanese whaling ship following it return from the Antarctic.

Bad Guys

Kristjan Loftsson- Iceland's Millionaire Whaler.

“Whales are just another fish to me”

A SUNDAY TIMES investigation has exposed Japan for bribing small nations with cash and prostitutes to gain their support for the mass slaughter of whales.

The Good Guys

•Peter Bethune- member of the Sea ShepherdsExposed the black market whale trade.

WDCS- leading global charity dedicated to defending whales and dolphins.

WWF- are working to reduce threats to the whale, including campaigning for an end to “scientific Whaling.

How does this effect us?

•The blue whale is an endangered species this means if hunting continues they will become extinct. Future generations will not be able to see these wonderful animals.

•The blue whale is almost top of the food chain and its disappearance could effect the overall food chain in ways we cannot imagine.

•It is an emblem of how we humans have almost wiped out an entire species for our greed.

Stop Whaling

Visit:http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/europeans-against-whaling.html

Thanks for listening!