Why are Humpback Whales Endangered?
Why are Humpback Whales Endangered?
By 18th century, the commercial value of humpback whales increased and that made them a preferred target for
hunters.
During 19th century, many nations were hunting heavily humpback whales and the increasing sophistication of weapons
caused a great decline in humpback whale population by the beginning of 20th century, reaching alarming levels as
low as 700 individuals in the North Atlantic.
Reaching around 1966 a population worldwide as low as 5,000 individuals, the Whaling Commission issued a desperate
ban on humpback whales to prevent extinction.
This protection has recovered the population from an historic 1,500 whales before the banning to around 20,000
individuals today.
| 
