Endangered Whales
From the Set Focus on Endangered Species
Whales are known for their massive size and beautiful songs, but these giants of the deep are quickly disappearing from Earth's oceans. Pollution, overfishing, and human disturbances have caused many whales to become endangered. Endangered Whales teaches readers about North Atlantic right whales, sei whales, blue whales, and gray whales, and how conservationists are pulling the species back from the brink of extinction.
Endangered Whales - Booklist
This volume in the Focus on Endangered Species series (5 titles) opens with a realistic scenario (a North Atlantic right whale ensnared in ropes used by crab trappers), an introduction to the challenges whales face, and bulleted facts about commercial whaling and its impact on whale survival. Utilizing a high-low format, straightforward writing, and numerous photos, individual chapters highlight four endangered whale species: North Atlantic right, sei, blue, and gray. After relating the whale’s physical characteristics, diet, lifespan, and population size, each chapter focuses on threats to these immense animals, including ship strikes, fishing line entanglement, a decrease in krill, climate change, continued commercial whaling in some areas, and orca attacks. Descriptions of conservation efforts, including the International Whaling Commission’s ban on commercial whaling, add to the book’s research value