Whale
Status: critically endangered
Species Facts:
- Blue whales are the largest animal on the planet at up to 200 tons and 30 meters in length.
- Whales breathe oxygen from the surface.
- Toothed whales use echolocation to navigate their surroundings.
- Killer whales are a member of the dolphin family.
- Humpback whales often live off their fat reserves for 5.5-7.5 months of the year.
- The name "Narwhal" comes from Old Norse, meaning "corpse whale".
Endangerment:
- Seven of the world's thirteen whale population are recognized as endangered.
- The wild blue whale population decreased from 225,000 to 3,000 since the early 1900s.
- Humans have hunted whales for thousands of years.
- More than 80% of whales have been entangled in fishing gear at least once.