Blue whale population rebounds after whaling ban

Posted By Rhett Butler on Sep 7, 2014 in 30-second environmental news

North Pacific Blue Whale. Photo courtesy of Gilpatrick/Lynn/NOAA

• The population of blue whales in the Eastern Pacific has recovered to 97 percent of historic levels after whaling was banned more than 40 years ago.
• Researchers from the University of Washington used whale songs to estimate the current population in the Eastern Pacific — one of two Pacific populations — at 2,200 individuals.
• The authors warn that an increase in ship traffic could present a risk to California blue whales.