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Gray Whale: Eschrichtiidae

Gray Whales And People



For thousands of years, people have hunted the gray whale for oil, meat, hide, and baleen. This has caused a major decline, and two of the three populations located throughout the world were killed off. As the gray whale became protected by the International Whaling Commission, whale watching has replaced hunting. Now millions of people watch gray whales along the peninsula of Baja California and as they migrate along the West Coast of North America. Some gray whales are known as "friendlies" and will come up to small boats and allow themselves to be touched.



Additional topics

Animal Life ResourceMammalsGray Whale: Eschrichtiidae - Physical Characteristics, Diet, Behavior And Reproduction, Gray Whales And People, Conservation Status - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT