Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Endangered Whales



Endangered Animals
Science For The Curious, Discover Magazine. By: Ashley P. Taylor

In the article, “Humans are Still Killing Substantial Number of Whales, New Analysis Finds”, it talks about how humans have a large influence of the amount of whales that are dying. Research from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, stated that there were many deaths and strandings of whales from the Eastern coast of the US and Canada. It was stated that there were 1762 deaths for about eight different types of whales.The study showed that that 28% of the deaths were because of humans and their interactions. Some of these interactions are through humans fishing and boat riding. The article states that there are certain laws that protects whales. The Ship Strike Rule, says that boats can not go a certain speed during specific times in order to take care of the whales better. However, not many boat drivers followed this law. Overall, they want these laws renewed and better enforced.



In my opinion, I think that this law needs to be held more seriously and more enforced. People should have serious consequences to driving their boat at such a high speed that it could hurt the whales. If this keeps on happening without a cost for people, the whales will continue to die and will become seriously endangered. It is important to realize what humans are doing to these animals because if no one does anything they will soon all become extinct. We need to raise awareness and inform people on what is going on with the whales and with other endangered animals. 

Taylor, Ashley P. Science For The Curious. Discover Magazine.Web.