The whales are back! Posted on 14 December 2017 Tags:Whales Not just for their annual visit to our shores, but in worldwide numbers. The happiest news to come out of the recent World Whale Conference in Durban was from ocean expert Prof Ken Findlay of the Centre for Sustainable Oceans at CPUT: after being hunted to the brink of extinction, certain species of the world’s whale population are bouncing back. The number of southern rights, for example, has doubled in just over a decade. He attributes this to the ‘rare paradigm shift in human thinking and behaviour’ achieved by Greenpeace’s anti-whaling campaigns of the 1970s. Also read: The best whale-watching route to Cape Agulhas This shift in thinking is also impacting tourism. Last year, some 13 million people worldwide wanted to see marine mammals in the wild instead of at aquariums or theme parks. That’s good news – as long as it’s done responsibly. This was the main topic on the table at the conference, with the aim of creating a set of global standards that protect cetaceans in tourism. A training course for marine naturalist guides is being designed for worldwide rollout, a WCA Responsible Whale Watching app is now available, and the concept of Whale Heritage Sites around the world is being pursued – places where ‘communities respect and celebrate cetaceans and marine biodiversity through conservation action and cultural activities’. Durban, which has seen an increase in migratory humpback whale numbers, is positioning itself for whale tourism and plans to have an annual Welcoming of the Whales festival. Humpbacks (pictured) and southern rights are now of ‘least concern’ on the IUCN Red List, but blue whales remain ‘endangered’ – as do several other kinds of cetaceans. Current whale count Southern right females left in the world (1930s): less than 500 Southern right whales at the end of the 1990s: about 7500 Number today: almost 15000 Southern hemisphere humpback whales (1970s): less than 2000 Humpback whales today: 50000 – 60000 Blue whales in mid-20th century: almost extinct Blue whales today: around 10000 Also read Marine conservation: how you can get involved Get fish smart and eat better for the ocean Visit Hope Spots and enjoy the ocean responsibly 7 sustainable practices to protect our oceans Related Posts Extinct & Endangered: world’s rarest insects captured in microscopic detail 16 March 2023 A collaboration between photographer, Levon Biss, and the American Museum of Natural History featured photos... read more Dutch tech company develops AI-powered anti-poaching camera 2 March 2023 EWT successfully challenges classification of wild animals as livestock 23 February 2023 Several previously classified animals as “landrace” breeds and managed as livestock will soon have their... read more PREV ARTICLE NEXT ARTICLE
Extinct & Endangered: world’s rarest insects captured in microscopic detail 16 March 2023 A collaboration between photographer, Levon Biss, and the American Museum of Natural History featured photos... read more
EWT successfully challenges classification of wild animals as livestock 23 February 2023 Several previously classified animals as “landrace” breeds and managed as livestock will soon have their... read more