Mixed survival chances for whales
Humpback whales have a lower risk of extinction
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Tuesday, 12, Aug 2008 10:46
While survival chances have improved for some whale species, others are moving closer to extinction, conservations have warned.
An update to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List shows that the humpback whale has moved from 'vulnerable' to 'least concern' - meaning it is at low risk of extinction.
The southern right whale has also moved to 'least concern'.
Randall Reeves of the IUCN said these whales have made a comeback mainly because they have been protected from commercial hunting.
"This is a great conservation success and clearly shows what needs to be done to ensure these ocean giants survive," he added.
But the list also revealed deterioration in the status of other cetacean species.
Overall, nearly a quarter of cetacean species are considered threatened, and of those, more than ten per cent (nine species) are listed as 'endangered' or 'critically endangered', the highest categories of threat.
In addition, two subspecies and 12 subpopulations are listed as 'critically endangered'.
The real situation could be much worse as more than half of the cetacean species (44 species) are classed as 'data deficient', meaning future research needs to be a priority.
Whales are under threat in many areas from ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, habitat deterioration, declining prey and noise disturbance.
"Disentanglement programmes to release whales captured in fishing gear, already carried out in the United States, New Zealand and Australia, help some individuals survive," said Bill Perrin, chair of the IUCN Cetacean Red List Authority.
"However, areas of critical habitat need to be closed to certain types of fishing, at least seasonally, to ensure the survival of some species."