Hobbies And Interests
Population and History
The blue whale remains an endangered species despite the fact that global commercial whaling ceased in 1964. Before the whaling industry went global and commercial, the blue whales had a population of about 270,000 worldwide. Their range and numbers have been severely depleted and are limited to the North Pacific and Atlantic, with occasional sightings in the Southern Hemisphere.
Migration
The blue whale migrates north and south. During the summer they migrate north to feed on krill, of which they typically consume six to seven tons per day. During the winter they migrate towards the equator for mating season. They do not seem to feed during the winter at all, but live off their stored body fat.
Present Day Habitat
Blue whales prefer the cold or temperate waters of the deep ocean where their favorite food, small crustaceans called krill, also reside. Blue whales are no longer found in what used to be common habitats, like the deep waters off the southern coast of Japan and northern waters in the Gulf of Alaska. The current habitat of the blue whale includes waters near Iceland and Ireland, the seas of the southern Caribbean and the Sea of Cortez.
Habitat Destruction
Whaling isn't the only factor that has impacted the blue whale population, although that was the initial cause of their status as an endangered species, reducing their numbers to only 1,000 worldwide. Pollution and the steady warming of their feeding grounds due to climate change has made their recovery difficult, despite being protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973.