Today, there are many reasons that cause threats to both flora and fauna. Bringing as a consequence the increase of the "Red List" of the IUCN. Taking into account that in the oceans there is an integral, which is the Blue Whale in Danger of Extinction. Find out why and more here.
Blue Whale in Danger of Extinction
La endangered blue whale, is a marine mammal, which is also cataloged as the largest animal species of all those registered, which has its home or habitat in all the oceans found or located on the globe. It is also identified by the name of "blue whale" and scientifically called "Balaenoptera Musculus".
This is considered a species of cetacean, which means an infra order of placental mammal, which is marine. Given that its development is completely adapted and appropriate to the environment. Besides, it is mysticete, which is also called barbados or baleen whales. What does it mean, that it is a marine mammal that has a carnivorous diet, without the presence of teeth, but beards.
The maximum weights that have been registered oscillate between 170 and 200 tons, with a length of 30 meters. Figures that evidently award it as the animal with the greatest weight and length, that is, the largest of all those that exist and have existed on Planet Earth. The coloration of its body is bluish gray on the back, while, in its ventral area, it is the same but much lighter.
It should be noted that this animal is one of the types of whales of existence in abundance, in the oceans. Until at the beginning of the 1966th century, the action of the human being made itself felt. Carrying out indiscriminate and continuous hunting for a period that exceeded four decades. Until reaching the extreme that in the year XNUMX, the protection of the species by the International Community begins. However, time continues to pass and it has been of no use, because the blue whale is in danger of extinction, with figures that are difficult to balance and overcome.
Characteristics of the Blue Whale in danger of extinction
Among the most relevant features are the following:
- The meaning of its scientific name is "family of fin whales".
- The lifespan of the endangered blue whale easily exceeds 80 years of life.
- It breathes on the surface, for which it has two nostrils through which it performs the action and also expels jets of water vapor. They can reach 10 or 12 meters in height, taking into account the surface of the water.
- It is normal or usual for it to remain submerged in the water, for periods of up to 35 to 36 minutes, during which time it comes to the surface to breathe before submerging again.
- His jaw is flattened, large and wide.
- To stay in good shape, your basic daily diet should have a calorie count of around 1,5 million. Which can be about forty million krill a day.
- Their average swimming speed ranges from 20 to 22 kilometers per hour. But when it is threatened, it easily reaches speeds between 45 and 50 kilometers per hour.
- It is capable of containing in its mouth, apart from water, an approximate amount of 90.000 kilograms of food, which is equal to 90 tons.
- His tongue has a weight that oscillates around 2,7 tons.
- It manages to produce very low frequency sounds, which are easily perceived or heard up to an average distance of 1.600 kilometers.
- The size of its skull is so large that it reaches the length of a quarter of its body.
- Out of the water it looks grayish blue, while in the depths it looks totally blue.
Other important data
Being the following:
- Instead of teeth, it has at least 300 hairs approximately 50 centimeters long in its mouth.
- Its lung capacity is quite high, oscillating around 5.000 liters.
- The females are bigger than the males.
- An adult specimen can weigh the same as 30 or 35 adult elephants together.
- Their pectoral fins can reach a length that ranges from four meters.
- The small dorsal fin that it has can only be seen when it is submerged. Otherwise, it does not become visible.
- Ventral folds are located in its throat, which are between 55 and 88. Which are the ones that allow it to carry out the action of expelling water from the mouth.
- It is an animal that prefers solitude, so it is only accompanied when it has a partner.
- At birth its calf can weigh up to 2,7 tons.
- The milk that the mother whale supplies to her calf has a fat content. Which is twelve times greater than that provided by the cow in its milking. It also has a high content of vitamins and minerals, which allows the offspring to grow and develop very quickly.
- It swims by moving its tail up and down and not like other fish, which do it from one side to the other.
- Your brain weight hovers around 0,007% of your entire body weight.
- Your heart can weigh and even exceed 600 kilograms in weight.
- When taking its food, it closes its jaw and immediately expels all the water contained between them. Meanwhile, the food is held or retained between the barbs of its mouth.
- It can dive to depths ranging between 100 and 500 meters.
Places frequented by the endangered Blue Whale
In order to carry out a greater control of the location of the endangered blue whale. Scientists apart from classifying them into three subspecies, plus one that is still under discussion, have divided them into zones or regions. That is, where it is possible to carry out the visualization, thanks to their concentration in the area. Of which you have the following:
- From North: In the Northern subspecies, there is the Balaenoptera Musculus Musculus, which is the one that is located in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans on the North side. Comprising an area whose beginning is the Gulf of Alaska, including the United States of America to the Central Pacific Ocean, being the location of this Japan.
- Antarctica: In the Antarctic subspecies, there is the Balaenoptera Musculus Intermedia, which is the one that takes the Strait of David, located between Canada and Greenland. Bearing in mind that when the cold strikes in winter, it moves towards the equator.
- Pygmy: In the pygmy subspecies, there is the Balaenoptera Musculus Brevicauda, which is the one that classifies the amount of blue whales in danger of extinction that is distributed in the oceans of Madagascar, New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia.
- From the North Indian Ocean: This subspecies includes the Balaenoptera Musculus Indica, with an amplitude that includes, from Sri Lanka to Somalia. (Still under discussion and dissatisfied assertion).
Feeding of the Blue Whale in danger of extinction
The diet of the endangered blue whale, is supported by krill. Which is a variety or class of crustacean, which is found in high quantities in all the world's oceans. Which means that the intake required by this powerful animal, as a daily diet, does not become a threat as might be supposed.
It should be noted that krill is a crustacean with quite small dimensions, which range or vary between ten to one hundred millimeters, that is, between one and ten centimeters. On the other hand, this is not an impediment when it comes to satisfying the appetite, since it is capable of eating up to 4.000 kilograms or four tons of these in a single day.
The variety of krill that the blue whale eats depends on where it is found. However, when those found are insufficient, they supplement with red crabs. On the other hand, if it happens that among the immense quantities of krill are tiny fish. As well as squid or other crustaceans, he will still eat them, even if they are not to his liking.
Reproduction of the endangered Blue Whale
This stage of the endangered blue whale begins at 9 or perhaps 10 years of age. Occurring when the female accepts the copulation of the male who courts her, reaching the point of chasing her. Being able to gestate after copulation, for eleven months, one to two offspring.
It is characterized by being one of the viviparous animals. Which means that it feeds its young with its mother's milk. Where, the breeding through this intake, increases its body weight up to 5% daily.
It should be noted that the pups are born with an approximate length of ten meters, receiving up to eight months of life only milk from their mother. On the other hand, the young remain with their mother until they reach an age that ranges between two and three years. Having as an important fact that the female blue whale is capable of reproducing in an average period of every three years.
Why is the Blue Whale in danger of extinction?
The monitoring that has been carried out on the blue whale has provided data that it is under threat of disappearing. This is demonstrated by the report of the "Red List" issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN. That establishes that the species is under the category "Endangered" of extinction. The main causes being the following:
Accidental Catches
This represents one of the most notorious, critical, annoying and even delicate reasons, because without proper control. This whale, like many others, remains trapped in the nets of those big businessmen who carry out their massive fishing.
Being vilely mistreated until later they reach death. Without taking into account the damage that is done to the blue whale in danger of extinction, as well as to other species of fish that suffer the same bad luck. Examples of these are dolphins, other species of whales, porpoises, among others.
Indiscriminate hunting
The indiscriminate hunting of endangered blue whale, is with the objective of taking the meat, as well as its oil, for profit. Bearing in mind that this work is completely illegal, but inexplicably it is still a common exercise.
Among the countries that practice it according to reports, reports, publications, data, research and others. Taking the act without any respect for the species and the damage they cause. In addition, ignoring the law, implying that it is for scientific work, they are the following: Japan, Iceland and Norway.
Climate Change
This serious reason is increasingly taking advantage in its favor and against the ecosystems. This begins with the elevation or increase in temperatures, which is the dreaded "global warming". Causing the poles to be affected by their melting.
This has as a consequence that the areas of the arctic, like the antarctic where the precious food is found. Suffer damage and endangered blue whale, left without it. On the other hand, the strong incidence of sunlight also affects, in the aspect that the amount of krill drops significantly. Having then, the need for the blue whale in danger of extinction is forced to migrate to get the food necessary for their subsistence.
Event that certainly diminishes their quality of life, because while some arrive with very little response capacity and energy, others do not make it, falling by the wayside. Which means, that they die from the weakness that the trip produces in them. Being also relevant, that all this interferes with the normal reproductive cycle.
Boat Collisions
The collisions of the different boats are part of the serious damage that is caused to the endangered blue whale. Due to their large size and strong impact, they cause instant death or an injury that does not allow them to live for many days.
A large part of the accidents are caused by the high speeds at which they travel, making it difficult to avoid colliding when they approach the animal. There are also events where the animal is disoriented and affected by the impact and disturbance generated by the movement of the boat. Coming to collide for not having a precise location and movement.
Water contamination
Everything that implies and generates water pollution has as a consequence that the endangered blue whale is increasingly limited and affected. But not only her, but also her offspring. Where the human being without measure has put his work so that the situation does not stop with actions such as:
- Allowing it to be poured for different reasons, the oil into the waters.
- Expelling toxic liquids from industries into the sea waters.
- Allowing and generating garbage from the beaches, carried by vacationers, such as plastic containers, bags and others. Reach the waters of the sea and from there your journey to the depths without stopping. Causing death and degradation of the ecosystem, both its flora and fauna.
- Generating loss of marine habitat to establish tourism, all in favor of profit and not of nature, leaving aside the triggering pollution.
- Increasing marine traffic, which brings with it disturbance and contamination, disorientation and even stranding of the species, which causes their death after not being able to return or getting stuck on the seabed.
- Allowing the intoxication of animals, product of the increase in discharged elements, such as fuel fluids from boats, which normally spill, among others.
How to Help the Blue Whale in danger of extinction?
Ways or mechanisms to help the endangered blue whale there are many, but if they are not executed with the same enthusiasm with which they are promoted, the effect is negative, instead of positive.
For the benefit of these large mammals, there are laws that provide them with protection. Similarly, the existence of plans, organizations, foundations, among others. That they have been arrested before the action of their establishments. In which compliance by third parties has been impossible, in many of them.
Where the ideal would be, for example, to establish navigation routes for large vessels. In which the areas where these animals affected by their collisions operate are avoided. That the industries, for their part, avoid using the waters of the seas, among others, as a dump for toxic waste. But since these basic mechanisms are not achieved, other actions have to be taken, which do give good results, with the contribution of all.
Solidarity Actions
In this sense, the best way to help the endangered blue whale, is mainly creating awareness among human beings. Taking positive actions that at the end of the road make a difference, such as the following:
- Not disposing of garbage on the various beaches and making use of the landfills provided for this purpose.
- Avoiding as much as possible the emission of toxic gases that pollute the environment and that promote global warming, affecting the ecosystem.
- Executing actions or mechanisms, in which the space and habitat of these specimens, of the fauna of Planet Earth, are respected.
- Remember that Reusing means for the environment a way of caring for and preserving what surrounds us.
- Support organizations, associations or any other that works for the benefit and protection of ecosystems.
- Request government representatives and agencies to take measures that protect both flora and fauna, which is what allows environmental balance.
