Whales and Habitat Preservation

Whales and Habitat Preservation: "For 50 million years, whales have swum in the Earth's oceans. Whales were nearly hunted to extinction in the 19th century when whale products were in high demand. At the turn of the century there were estimated to be only a few thousand California gray whales left. Today, whales are protected by a myriad of national laws and international treaties, and most species have made a remarkable comeback (see JWHALE case, NWHALE case, and ESKIMO case studies). The California Gray Whale, or Pacific Gray Whale, is among the most impressive of these success stories. These animals spend half of the year in Mexican waters, and the Mexican government has acted to protect this species of whale by preventing development in most of the lagoon areas that make up the whales' winter home. The species has recovered to its pre-whaling population of 15,000 to 20,000. A 1993 count found approximately 21,000 California gray whales (Seaworld home page). In June 1994, the California gray whale became the first marine mammal to be removed from the endangered species list. This represented a great victory for conservation efforts."