The Blue Whale
The Largest Animal to Ever Live
The blue whale is the largest animal to have ever lived on Earth. It can grow up to 30 meters long and weigh up to 200 tons. Blue whales are found in all oceans except the Arctic. They are baleen whales, which means they have a series of plates made of keratin (the same material as human hair and nails) hanging from their upper jaws. These plates filter small fish and krill from the water.
Blue whales are an endangered species. There are only around 10,000 left in the wild. The main threats to blue whales are:
Hunting: Blue whales were hunted for their oil and meat until the 1960s.
Ship strikes: Blue whales are often struck by ships, especially in shipping lanes.
Bycatch: Blue whales are sometimes caught in fishing nets and drown.
Climate change: Climate change is causing the ocean to warm, which is affecting the food supply of blue whales.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the blue whale as endangered. The IUCN also predicts that the blue whale could go extinct by 2035 if the current threats are not addressed.
Here are some things you can do to help save the blue whale:
+ Support conservation organizations:
There are many organizations working to protect blue whales.
You can support their work by donating money or volunteering your time.
+ Reduce your consumption of seafood:
Blue whales are often caught as bycatch in fishing nets.
By reducing your consumption of seafood, you can help to reduce this threat.
+ Educate others about blue whales: T
alk to your friends and family about blue whales and the threats they face.
The more people who know about blue whales, the more likely we are to save them.