To the Saunterer’s way of thinking, a science journalist is wrong in using the phrase “an ecological tragedy.” Ecological tragedies come from humans skinning the Earth of its animals and plants. Better that journalists use the phrase for the root cause of ecological tragedies -- “the human tragedy” - our race’s ruinous constitution of greed and shortsightedness and lack of compassion for Earth's creatures.
Consider that in the 19th century, U. S. whalers harpooned more than 23,000 North Pacific right whales. In 1949, the whales were given international protection, yet the Soviet Union illegally hunted them to near extinction. Today’s data suggest that between 30 and 54 right whales remain.
Whale biologist Paul Wade says:
It is the world’s smallest whale population for which we have estimates.
The report of the research, published in 30 June issue of Biology Letters (click here to see), concludes:
Their precarious status today (only tens of animals) is a sad legacy of the massive campaign of illegal whaling conducted by the USSR in the 1960s. Their situation presents us with a grim reminder that international fisheries and whaling agreements are largely worthless if unaccompanied by stringent international monitoring and regulation of catches.
For information about Paul Wade, click here. For information and pictures about the North Pacific right whale, click here.
Consider that in the 19th century, U. S. whalers harpooned more than 23,000 North Pacific right whales. In 1949, the whales were given international protection, yet the Soviet Union illegally hunted them to near extinction. Today’s data suggest that between 30 and 54 right whales remain.
Whale biologist Paul Wade says:
It is the world’s smallest whale population for which we have estimates.
The report of the research, published in 30 June issue of Biology Letters (click here to see), concludes:
Their precarious status today (only tens of animals) is a sad legacy of the massive campaign of illegal whaling conducted by the USSR in the 1960s. Their situation presents us with a grim reminder that international fisheries and whaling agreements are largely worthless if unaccompanied by stringent international monitoring and regulation of catches.
For information about Paul Wade, click here. For information and pictures about the North Pacific right whale, click here.
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