WHALES

     Whales are the largest animals on earth. They are not fish, they are mammals that must breathe air to live. Whales have the largest brain of any animal and doubtlessly are extremely intelligent. They have been systematically wiped out over the years. The Soviet Union and Japan are the two most active nations on earth that continue to hunt and slaughter this incredible wonder of nature.

Protected:

     A. Blue Whale - its heart weighs 1200 pounds; its tongue 1/3 of a ton. It is 100 feet long, weighing 130 tons. At birth a Blue Whale weighs over 2 tons. Protected since 1966, the Blue Whale population is estimated to be between 3,000 and 4,000.

     B. Gray Whale - weighing 40 tons, it is 40 feet long. Protected since 1947, the Gray Whale population is estimated slightly over 10,000.

     C. Southern Right or Black Whale - weighing 40 tons, it is 50 to 60 feet in length. Protected since 1935, their population is estimated to be between 3,000 and 4,000.

     D. Humpback Whale - weighing 40 tons, it is 40 to 50 feet long. Protected since 1966, their population is estimated to be 5,000.

     E. Bowhead Whale - weighing 25 tons, it is 50 to 60 feet in length. Protected since 1935, the Bowhead Whale population is estimated to be 1,000 to 2,500.

Hunted and killed with harpoons that explode inside the whale on quotas set by the International Whaling Commission.

     A. Sperm Whale - weighing 60 tons and 60 feet in length. Over 10,000 Sperm Whales were killed in 1977, which is more than the entire population of any of the protected whales.

B. Minke's Whale - weighing 10 tons and 30 feet in length, more than 10,000 Minke's Whales were killed in 1977.

C. Sei Whale - weighing 10 tons and 60 feet in length. Approximately 2,000 Sei Whales were killed in 1977.

D. Byrde's Whale - weighing 20 tons and 45 feet in length, over 11,000 killed in 1977.

E. Finback Whale - weighing 65 tons and 80 feet in length.

Unbelievably, whales still are quite friendly towards man. Some will allow humans to touch them and seem willing to communicate with us. Those who participate in their slaughter and still maintain a clear conscience have little regard for life itself.