"In the seventeenth century, right whales were so common in Cape Cod Bay that whalers joked they could cross the bay by walking across the whales' backs."
"Today, fewer than 400 right whales survive worldwide, a bleak testament to their name, which was bestowed by whalers who deemed them the 'right' whales to kill."
"Such details enliven marine biologist Asha de Vos's excellent, well-illustrated book about whales, emphasizing their historical significance and conservation needs."
In the 17th century, right whales were abundant in Cape Cod Bay, with whalers joking about crossing the bay on their backs. Currently, fewer than 400 right whales exist globally, highlighting the tragic irony of their name, given their vulnerability and the ease with which they were hunted. Asha de Vos's book provides an engaging and well-illustrated exploration of these majestic creatures, emphasizing their historical significance and the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect them from extinction.
Read at Nature
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]