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Article: A whale of a tale: unregulated commercial whaling caused the number of bowhead whales to decrease to an alarmingly low level. (Rare & Endangered).
- Article from:
- National Parks
- Article date:
- July 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 National Parks Conservation Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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People long have been fascinated by whales. Classic novels have been written about the world's largest mammals, Shamu was among Sea World's most popular attractions, and whale-sighting adventures have become ever-popular excursions. Still, despite widespread reverence for these kings of the sea, species' numbers, such as those of the bowhead whale, are cause for concern in some areas.
Bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus, inhabit different parts of the Arctic in five populations. The western Arctic stock, near Alaska's Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, is the only group with significant numbers--9,860. Most of this stock inhabits the Bering, Chukchi, and ...