Endangered Species: The Sperm Whale

The sperm whale, star of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, is the largest toothed predator (males can grow up to up to 67 feet and females up to) in the world. The sperm whale is pelagic, meaning it can be found in the open sea all over the globe, and migrates seasonally. These massive creatures make loud, booming noises for echolocation. This method of communication is so complex and advanced, some scientists assert that were humans able to decipher the meanings of whale sounds, we would be able to develop technology to communicate with them. They were declared endangered under the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969. Population estimates are around 300,000 whales.

Historically, one of the major threats to the sperm whale and other whale populations has been the practice of whaling. Predominant all through the 19th and most of the 20th century, whales were hunted for spermaceti and sperm oil, which were used for candles, soap, cosmetics, machine oil, lamp oil, pencils, crayons, leather waterproofing, rust-proofing materials and many pharmaceutical compounds. This practice has decreased significantly but is not completely eradicated (whaling is still prevalent in Japan).
More contemporary threats include destructive commercial fishing methods, pollutants, and oil development and drilling. Conservation specialists note that anthropogenic noise produced by oil and gas industries interfere with whales’ ability to use sonar communication.
Sperm whales and other major predators are crucial for maintaining the balance of global aquatic ecosystems. Even whale poop is beneficial to the ocean! Nutrients in sperm whale feces have shown to help “stimulate the growth of phytoplankton, which pull carbon from the atmosphere to provide a cleaner and healthier breathing environment for all animals.” Economically, whale tourism has exploded in the past several decades and provides an important source of revenue for many countries.
The decrease in mass whaling is largely due to the efforts of the International Whaling Commission, in conjunction with other smaller whale conservation organizations. Whales are protected under international law, and many conservationists direct their efforts towards ensuring safe migration paths.
