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HELPING
TO PROTECT THE FUTURE
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| Welcome to Help A Whale |
Whaling: All species of large whales
have been drastically reduced in numbers by centuries of intensive whaling.
An indefinite ban by the International Whaling Commission on commercial
whaling of all large whales gradually went into effect following the
1984—85 season. The Indian Ocean, parts of the Pacific Ocean off the
Mexican coast, and most of the ocean waters of the Southern Hemisphere
have been designated whale sanctuaries. With these and various other
protective efforts, some species have begun to return to acceptable
numbers, but others, especially the right and blue whales, are still
rare and endangered. After decades of protection the number of E Pacific
gray whales seems to have returned to its estimated prewhaling level.
Only the small minke whale exists in populations great enough for sustainable
whaling to be considered. Whale products include whale oil, sperm oil, spermaceti,
ambergris, and whalebone, as well as meat, bone meal, and liver oil. Natural
and synthetic materials have replaced all whale products in the United States.
See separate entry on whaling for more information.
Classification: Whales are classified in the phylum Chordata,
subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Cetacea.
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This site is dedicated to saving the world's
whales.
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