Before commercial whaling began in the 19th century, there were an estimated 250,000 blue whales in the world. However, by the early 20th century, their numbers had been reduced to just a few thousand. In 1966, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned commercial whaling of blue whales. However, some blue whales are still killed by illegal whaling and ship strikes.
Today, there are an estimated 10,000-25,000 blue whales in the world. They are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
While blue whales are no longer considered to be critically endangered, they are still facing a number of threats. These include:
* Climate change: Climate change is causing the oceans to warm and acidify, which can harm blue whales and their food sources.
* Pollution: Pollution from human activities, such as oil spills and plastic waste, can also harm blue whales.
* Ship strikes: Blue whales are often killed by collisions with ships.
Despite these threats, there are a number of conservation efforts underway to help blue whales recover. These efforts include:
* Protecting critical habitat: The IWC has designated a number of marine protected areas where blue whales are known to feed and breed.
* Reducing pollution: Governments and industries are working to reduce pollution from human activities.
* Educating the public: The public is being educated about the importance of blue whales and the threats they face.
These efforts are helping to protect blue whales and give them a chance to recover.