An overview of the enemies of the whales
Whales are the largest marine life. Due to their size and the ease with which they move, they offer a majestic sight. But whales also have enemies that threaten their lives.
1. One of the greatest threats to whales - whaling
Whaling was a thing of the past as early as the 18th century. and 19th Century one of the greatest dangers for the animals and whalers were among the most dangerous enemies. The meat of the whales was eaten, the oil was used as fuel and the skeleton was used, for example, to make corsets. The massive whaling resulted in whale extermination. It was not until 1931 that the first laws were passed to reduce whaling. In 1985 a law was passed that - with a few exceptions - completely forbids whaling. Nevertheless, whales are still hunted on a massive scale.
2. Modern enemies of animals - pollution
One of the greatest enemies of our time is pollution. This does not only mean the pollution of the world's oceans, but also the increasing destruction of the ozone layer. The resulting particularly strong radiation means that plankton multiply less, which means that the whales' food supply is severely restricted. The habitat of the animals is also severely damaged by the acidification of the oceans.
3. The fishing threat
Small whales, especially some species of dolphins, are severely affected by the extinction due to the tuna fishery, as they often stay in the vicinity of schools of tuna. They are easier for fishermen to see because dolphins have to go to the surface of the water to breathe and are therefore easier to spot than tuna. When the tuna are caught, they then end up in the fishermen's nets, although they are only bycatch.
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