WHALES 



Toothed Whales (Suborder Odontoceti) 

 Order: CETACEA Baleen Whales (Suborder Mysticeti) 



Among the animals threatened with extinction, the whales present a special case. It 

 seems impractical here to consider them in the same manner as the other mammals. 

 Except for the sirenians , these large, intelligent animals are the earth's only completely 

 aquatic mammals; from birth to death they live in a marine environment. All the species, 

 presently threatened, are the so-called Great Whales. These large mammals have been 

 ruthlessly exploited by a loosely regulated whaling industry for decades. It is primarily 

 this exploitation that has pushed some species of whales to the brink of extinction and 

 seriously threatens others. The Great Whales spend at least part of their life on the 

 high seas; they are an international resource and no nation has complete jurisdiction over 

 them. 



The whales received some consideration under the 1937 International Convention for the 

 Regulation of Whaling, when the Convention established an International Whaling 

 Commission. That Commission was provided limited management capacity and little 

 enforcement authority . Membership in the Commission is voluntary . Many whaling 

 nations are not members; therefore, are not subject to the Commission's regulations. 



It is only during recent years that some of the whaling nations have acknowledged their 

 obligation to manage whale stocks in a responsible manner. In 1971, some whaling 

 nations agreed to allow international observers aboard their whaling vessels and to 

 inspect their whaling stations to insure better compliance with whaling agreements . 

 Serious consideration is now being given to conducting research in an effort to determine 

 the status of various species of whales and to manage them in accordance with research 

 findings. It is only when such knowledgeable management programs become realities 

 that we can assume the threat of extinction has lessened. 



With exception of the sperm whale, all species in American waters that are in jeopardy 

 are baleen whales (suborder Mysticeti); the sperm is a toothed whale (suborder 

 Odontoceti) . 



SPERM WHALE or CACHALOT, Physeter catodon (Linnaeus) . Polar, temperate and 

 tropical seas; occurs off both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America. 

 Still widely hunted; not protected by international agreement. Considered of 

 special concern because of the numbers that are being commercially taken, and 

 because of lack of international protection. 



GRAY WHALE, Eschrichtius robustus (Lilljeborg) . Distributed in eastern North Pacific, 

 Alaska to Baja California; also a population in western North Pacific. Populations 

 of this whale were severely depleted during the 19th century by over-exploitation. 

 Protection provided by a 1938 international agreement has helped the gray whale 

 recover. The eastern Pacific population appears stable, although concern still 

 exists over the status of the western Pacific population. The increasing numbers 

 and apparent stable population is a good example of the ability of an animal to 

 recover when adequate protection is provided. Considered as in need of attention 

 because of concern over western Pacific population and lack of effective management 

 programs . 



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