New Population of Blue Whales in Western Indian Ocean.

23 December 2020.

Introduction:

 Scientists have found evidence of a population of blue whales living in the Western Indian ocean based on an analysis of sound recordings from the region.Whales are the largest animals to have ever lived on the Earth.

How were the whales discovered?

• These highly endangered mammals are found around the globe in all oceans, and sing very low-pitched and recognisable songs.
•  Every blue whale population has its own unique song.
• In a recently published study in the journal Endangered Species Research, the scientists analysed recordings from the Arabian Sea coast of Oman, and as far south as Madagascar, and found a blue whale song that had never been described.
• Based on the analysis, the researchers believe they have discovered a previously unrecognised population of blue whales in the Western Indian Ocean.

What is echo-location?

• Echolocation is a technique used by bats, dolphins ,whales and other animals to determine the location of objects using reflected sound.
•  This allows the animals to move around in pitch darkness, so they can navigate, hunt, identify friends and enemies, and avoid obstacles.
• Whales from Madagascar are all known to echolocate.

IUCN Status of Blue Whale

• . The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists Blue Whale as “Endangered species”.
• It is listed under Appendix I of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
• The Blue Whale which was found in abundance got extinct due to hunting.
• . The International Whaling Commission banned Blue Whale hunting in 1967

International Whaling Commission

• It is an international body that was set up by the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling.
•  The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling was signed in Washington D.C.
• The main duty of International Whaling Commission is to keep whaling under control.
• Under Florianopolis Declaration, the International Whaling Commission began conservation of Whales and also decided to recover whale population to pre-industrial levels.
•  India is a member of International Whaling Commission.