One of the most exciting recoveries I studied in Tenacious Beasts was the recovery of whales. Humpback and sperm whales are back. Humpbacks in the North Pacific have rocketed from 1,200 in the 1960s to 26,000 today. Sperm whales have recovered enough to become a serious headache for longline fishermen.
The recovery gives reason for hope.
This excerpt shows how we have gained a chance to look at whales with fresh eyes. It’s also a teaser for the next chapter where I describe what whales might be doing for climate change.
Enjoy “How The Resurgence of Whale Populations Impacts our Ecosystem,” courtesy of Lithub.com.
Credit: Heidi Pearson: NMFS Permit #20648
Christopher J. Preston 