The Amazing Blue Whale is in Danger

One of my favorite animals of all time is the blue whale. I have had the wonderful privilege of seeing a blue whale in person while on a cruise ship before, and the experience only augmented my fascination with the animal.

Able to reach an astonishing length of 98 feet and a weight of 173 tons, these magnificent animals are members of the largest currently known animal species to have ever existed, both on land and underwater. They are easily recognizable by the combination of their distinct blue-gray color on their dorsal surface and their lighter underbelly color. As these whales have spread throughout the oceans, three subspecies have evolved in different areas of the oceans. The subspecies are still very similar and able to mate with one another.

Up until the early 20th century, blue whales were common throughout our planet's oceans. However, as a result of excessive hunting, often illegally, they were almost pushed to extinction by the mid-1950s. It has not been until only a few decades ago that these species have started to come under the protection of the international community. On a positive note, as protection and conservation efforts have been ramped up, blue whale populations have begun to rebound in various regions of the sea. However, there is much work left to do and the species is far from being removed from the endangered species list. 

It would be a real shame if this awe-inspiring species faces the same fate as many other species that have been eradicated from the Earth due to human action. Although the international community has taken note of this problem and taken steps to address it, illegal whale-hunting still happens today. Even worse, some countries like Japan have still not taken steps to ban whale hunting for good. Therefore, it is our responsibility as global citizens to advocate for these precious animals, so that our future generations also have the opportunity to witness the beauty and grandeur of the amazing blue whale.