California Blue Whales Rebound From Whaling

vinces99 writes: The number of California blue whales has rebounded to near historical levels, according to new research (abstract) by the University of Washington, and while the number of blue whales struck by ships is likely above allowable U.S. limits, such strikes do not immediately threaten that recovery. This is the only population of blue whales known to have recovered from whaling – blue whales as a species having been hunted nearly to extinction. Blue whales – nearly 100 feet in length and weighing 190 tons as adults – are the largest animals on Earth and the heaviest ever, weighing more than twice as much as the largest known dinosaur, the Argentinosaurus. They are an icon of the conservation movement and many people want to minimize harm to them, according to Trevor Branch, UW assistant professor of aquatic and fishery sciences. California blue whales, most visible while feeding 20 to 30 miles off the California coast, range from the equator to the Gulf of Alaska. Today they number about 2,200, according to monitoring by other research groups, which is likely about 97 percent of the historical levels.

Comments

Dreadnoughtus schrani now the largest known dino

[Doofus]

The author of the summary is not up to date on the recent release of info on Dreadnoughtus schrani, now believed to be the largest creature to ever have walked on land.

See the following:

http://drexel.edu/now/archive/2014/September/Dreadnoughtus-Dinosaur/

http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/04/world/americas/dreadnoughtus-huge-dinosaur/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreadnoughtus

Re:Thanks to the crew of the Starship Enterprise

[jedidiah]

Humpbacks are like the Ocean's PR department. They happily make a huge spectacle of themselves. They do this without any human intervention. No cages or trainers are required.

They just do it all by themselves...