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Uncovering the crisis of North Pacific right whales: Why are their numbers so low today?
The North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica) is a very large and obese filter-feeding whale species that is now extremely rare and endangered. According to current biological data, the number of right whales in the northeastern Pacific may be less than 40, while the number of right whales appearing in neighboring western waters such as near Command Island and along the coast of Kamchatka Peninsula is slightly higher, perhaps around 100. This number is far higher than the 19th century, when commercial whaling was rampant, when there were large populations of right whales in the North Pacific that exceeded 20,000.
Even after 1935, when international treaties banned the hunting of right whales, illegal Soviet whaling caused severe damage to North Pacific right whales between 1962 and 1968.
The Belém's whale is one of the most endangered whales. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed it as an "endangered" species, and its population in the northeastern Pacific is even rated as "critically endangered." Biodiversity conservation groups say the North Pacific right whale is the most endangered whale on Earth.
Taxonomy
Since 2000, scientists have considered right whales in the North Pacific and nearby waters to be a separate species, Eubalaena japonica. In the past, North Pacific right whales were considered the same species as North Atlantic and Southern Hemisphere right whales, but genetic differences pointing to their uniqueness have become widely recognized.
Feature Description
The North Pacific right whale has a very large body and heavy morphology, very similar to the North Atlantic and Southern right whales, and even difficult to determine when the sex is unknown. This whale can grow to 15 to 18.3 meters in length and weigh up to 100,000 kilograms when fully grown.
The North Pacific right whale is unique in that it has multiple rough skin areas called "keratinous patches" that are covered with thousands of small parasites, and no one knows what their physiological function is. Conclusion.
Compared to other whales, the North Pacific right whale lacks a dorsal fin, has a very broad black back and an arched jaw, making it unique when swimming in the water.
Ecology and Behavior
North Pacific right whales feed mainly on small crustaceans such as Daphnia. They feed by lowering their heads to the surface of the water while swimming and repeatedly filtering the Daphnia in the water for food. Due to their rarity, knowledge of their behavior is relatively limited, with most existing data coming from past whaling records and the few observations that have been made.
Studies have shown that North Pacific right whales are very sensitive to the presence of surface vessels when patrolling their feeding grounds, often fleeing or diving underwater, making them difficult to observe.
Historical and Current Population
Before commercial whaling fleets entered the North Pacific in 1835, the original population size of North Pacific right whales was probably between 20,000 and 30,000. However, with the rise of whaling, their numbers suffered an irreversible decline.
The vast majority of data on North Pacific right whales comes from records of past whaling operations and limited observations in recent years. Today, North Pacific right whales are facing a survival crisis. What exactly is causing this?
