Humpback whale Final

Humpback whales are common throughout the world’s oceans. The length of the migration routes of humpback whales reaches five thousand kilometers, which makes this species the most mobile among mammals. Most often whales travel alone or in small groups of 4-5 individuals. The small number of groups is due to the significant amount of food needed by the whale per day (up to four tons). At the beginning of the twentieth century, up to 50,000 whales per season were killed annually. The International Whaling Commission was established in 1946 to regulate whaling. In 1982, the commission imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling. Despite attempts to preserve the species, the ability to conduct whaling activities within the framework of scientific research allowed quotas for the annual slaughter of thousands of cetaceans. In 2014, the UN banned the Japanese scientific program, under which up to 1,500 whales were destroyed annually. In 2019, Japan withdrew from the ICPC and resumed commercial animal slaughter.