Blue Whales

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Reaching lengths approaching one hundred feet and weights of one hundred tons, blue whales ((Balaenoptera musculus)) rank as the largest mammals ever to roam the earth's lands or seas. That fact alone puts them in the natural wonders category.

They belong to the Balaenopteridae family of Rorqual Whales and inhabit all of the world's oceans, except for the Arctic ocean.

Like many of the larger whale species, their population was severely depleted due to commercial whaling. The IUCN estimates current population levels for groups of blue whales according to geographic locations. Of all the groups, the IUCN ranks the Antarctic population as most endangered, saying, "the Antarctic blue whale (B. m. intermedia) subspecies should be (assessed) separately as Critically Endangered due to a reduction over the same period of over 97%".

Because its range extends across the world's oceans, different levels of protection are accorded to it, depending on geographical location.

Whale Sanctuaries for example, probably afford the most protection to whales. Member states of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) have heard a proposal for a South Atlantic Sanctuary, although they have not voted on the issue.

In October 2008, the Chilean Congress passed a law creating a whale sanctuary along the entire Chilean coast. The legislation stands to help the newly discovered Blue Whale population along with the many other cetacean species known to inhabit the waters.

© 2008. Patricia A. Michaels