Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Animal Research - Humpback Whale

Introduction
The humpback whale is a Baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from 12–16 metres and weighs approximately 36,000 kilograms. The humpback whale has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is an acrobatic animal, often breaching and slapping the water. Males produce a complex whale song, which lasts for 10 to 20 minutes and is repeated for hours at a time. The purpose of the song is not yet clear, although it appears to have a role in mating.


Habitat
Found in oceans and seas around the world, humpback whales typically migrate up to 25,000 kilometres each year. Humpback whales feed only in summer, in polar waters, and migrate to tropical or sub-tropical waters to breed and give birth during the winter. During the winter, humpback whales fast and live off their fat reserves.

How many there are and what has led them to becoming extinct
Due to over-hunting, its population fell by an estimated 90% before a whaling moratorium was introduced in 1966. Stocks of the species have since partially recovered; however, entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with
ships, and noise pollution also remain concerns. There are at least 80,000 Humpback Whales worldwide.

How are they protected and what should be done to protect them
At the Marine Mammal Center, Humpback whales have been observed. Probably the most famous humpback whale is "Humphrey," who was rescued twice by The Marine Mammal Center and other concerned groups. The first rescue was in 1985, when he swam into San Francisco Bay and then up the Sacramento River. To conserve the population of such endangered animals, the government should put a stop for the hunting of the animals. The marine mammal center can help them to reproduce their young before sending them back to the sea.


Conclusion
If efforts had put in to save the Humpback whales, they will survive and continue to improve the ecosystem.

Bernard Soon Pri 6H
Source from : www.wikepedia.com, www.tmmc.org

Posted by 6H' blog at 11:14 PM