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The Blue Whale: The Neediest Animal Ever

Ranked #5,415 in Pets & Animals, #133,025 overall

A Gentle Giant

I've always been fascinated by this beautiful sea creature. People ask "If you could be any animal, what would it be?" Well, here we are. How awesome it would be to live as a whale for a day. If you've ever seen footage of these giants, you know how captivating they truly are. I'm proud to introduce you to the great Blue Whale and let you get a sneak peek into their lives.

Move Over Giant Squid!

At up to 108 feet and 200 tons, the blue whale is the largest whale to have ever been in existence. Their tongues alone can weigh as much as an elephant and their hearts can weigh as much as an automobile. Blue whale adults live on a diet comprised of 4 tons of krill per day, during certain months. When a calf is born, it weighs up to 3 tons and is 25 feet in length. In the first year, it feeds on mom's milk, and gains around 200 pounds a day.

For some fun comparisons,click here.

Adopt a Whale

Why the Blue Whale is the Neediest Ever

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Drastic decrease in population.
Breeding with another species known as the Fin whale, creating a hybrid blue-fin whale. It is believed that the cause is low numbers of blue whales. Slim pickins, if you will.
Whaling
The increased number of Plastics in the ocean...! (that's for another lens)
Large ships. It's believed that the noise of the ships are what draw the whales to them.

Whaling

Whaling started in at least 6000 BC. It was growing very popular in the 17th-19th centuries, and the concept of whale "harvesting" was popular in the 20th century. Today, thanks to the International Whaling Commission, whalers in countries who are in the IWC are now very limited on what they're permitted to kill. For example, Norway still hunts Minke whales commercially,under regulation.

The blue whale is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN's Red List.

Members of the IWC are highlighted in blue.

Whaling News from IFAW

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The Threat of Ships

Many large ships and boats make such a loud noise, that they fall into the frequency range of many whales. Some whales have actually changed their migration pattern due to the noise pollution. This noise is a huge contributing factor in whale numbers being so low. Whale sounds can travel thousands of miles enabling the whales to communicate and find a mate. But with noise pollution from ships, this communication is drastically decreasing- along with the whale population. IFAW reports that high intensity noises such as seismic surveys and military sonar emits sounds over 200 decibels, injuring marine animals. Such sonar has been linked to dolphins and whales being stranded. It is believed that whales only have the capacity to hear up to 100 miles away, compare this to the 1,000 mile range in 1940.

Hybrid Whale: by NationalGeographic | video info

152 ratings | 18,257 views

curated content from YouTube

Do you recycle your plastics to help keep them out of the world's oceans?

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Yes

karen550 says:

Sure do. As a matter of fact our city has a free recycling program that really helps and is easy to use. I wish all cities would!

Posted July 23, 2009

BevsPaper says:

Sure do! I was brought up to recycle before we knew that as a word. It was just something my family did. Before the neighborhood recycling programs began, I used to drive miles to recycle items.

Posted July 19, 2009

Vacation-In-My-Head says:

Absolutely, isn't it our responsibility to try and undo what has been done and to help educate our children about it now so they can help to do their part!

Posted June 27, 2009

Matthewsmom says:

We also go with our Cub Scouts and clean the beaches.
We just went this past Saturday

Posted June 10, 2009

Janusz says:

Yes, we all have a responsibility to try & mend the damage caused to our Planet.. Even if this is not possible, we can at least halt the process of destruction. Educating the younger Generations is extremely important, let´s leave them a healing Earth in our Will & not a dying one.

Posted May 09, 2009

JenOfChicago says:

Definitely!

Posted May 08, 2009

sandyspider says:

I recycle. I'm happy to say that.

Posted May 08, 2009

kiwisoutback says:

I recycle most everything. We hardly throw anything away nowadays.

Posted May 08, 2009

I try, but not always

TylaMac says:

I don't have a recycling program in my area so I try not to buy products packaged in plastic. I do reuse plastic bottles and jars as much as I can. Now if I could just get my hubby to cooperate.

Posted May 07, 2009

vxn8r says:

Whenever I can (no pun intended)

Posted May 06, 2009

view all 17 comments

"If we want fish tomorrow, we need marine reserves today. If we want whales tomorrow, we need marine reserves today. If we want to stop bottom trawling, we need marine reserves today. For healthy oceans -- we need marine reserves today."

Links on Blue Whales

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The Blue Whale: The Neediest Animal Ever

A Gentle Giant

Move Over Giant Squid!

Adopt a Whale

Why the Blue Whale is the Neediest Ever

Whaling

Whaling News from IFAW

The Threat of Ships

Do you recycle your plastics to help keep them out of the world's oceans?

Yes

karen550 says:

BevsPaper says:

Vacation-In-My-Head says:

Matthewsmom says:

Janusz says:

JenOfChicago says:

sandyspider says:

kiwisoutback says:

I try, but not always

TylaMac says:

vxn8r says:

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