What do you think is the largest animal on earth? Could it be a gray elephant, a scary shark, or even a dinosaur?! Guess what?! It's actually the BLUE WHALE!
Whales live in the ocean, which takes up over 75% of the earth.
They eat shrimp, fish, crab, and even smaller whales (6).
Whales come in many shapes and SIZES, just like humans!
What are some different types of whales?
The HUMPBACK Whale- These whales can grow to be 40-60 feet long, and are also dark gray or black. Male humpback whales are known for singing whale songs to attract the female whales.
(2)The KILLER Whale, also known as the Orca- These whales are black and white, and are generally 23 to 32 feet long (3).
(4)The BLUE Whale- These whales are the LARGEST ANIMAL ON EARTH! They can grow to be 100 feet long. Can you guess how much an elephant weighs? Well, that is the same as the weight of a blue whale's tongue! And how much does a car weigh? The same as the heart of a blue whale! That's one HUGE WHALE!
(1)How do people go whale hunting?
Whalers are the people that do the hunting. They begin by going on a large boat, packed with equipment, food, and other necessities. Depending on the whale they are trying to hunt, they choose which method they will be hunting with.
Some whale hunting methods are net fishing, poisonous darts, cannons, and swords (harpoons). Whale hunting is not a good thing at all. People kill the whales, leaving the whales' families and calves behind (5).
Why do people go whale hunting?
There are many reasons why people go whale hunting, but most of them are the products that can be used from the whales.
These items can be used from the parts of a whale:
- blubber, for oil and fuel
- meat, for food for cattle, poultry, and even sometimes humans
- the bones, for umbrella ribs, buttons, fertilizer and women's corsets
How can we save the whales?
Sadly, there is not much we can personally do to stop the whalers from killing the whales, unless it is made illegal. BUT! Did you know that there are other things you and I can do to save whales from being hurt? Here are some simple things we can do!
- Cut up plastic soda can rings, because they can choke animals, including smaller whales!
- Do not release balloons into the air, because they can make their way to the ocean, and whales often eat them thinking they are jellyfish! This is like us eating plastic. It is bad for us to eat!
- If you go fishing, do not release the hooks and fishing line into the water, because they could hurt the whales!
- Recycle! Not only is this good for the environment, but it prevents items from ending up in the oceans.
- You can even ask a parent or adult to help by donating to the Save the Whales Foundation! Have them go to savethewhales.org for more information. (7)
If YOU want to help to save the whales, there are many things you can do! Remember that whale hunting is a bad thing, and whales are being killed only for the benefit of humans! They are amazing creatures and should not be treated this way! Don't you agree?
Citations:
(1) Blue whale [Photograph]. (n.d.) Retrieved from Blue Whale and Forest Conservation in Chile article at WWF website: http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/successes/?220995/Blue-whale-and-forest-conservation-in-Chile#
(2) Humpback whale [Photograph]. (2005). Retrieved from Bryce Groark Photography at Bryce Groark website: http://www.brycegroark.com/#/underwater/humpback
(3) Killer whale (Orca). (1996). Retrieved November 20, 2014, from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/killer-whale/
(4) Killer whale [Photograph]. (2010). Retrieved from Flickr at Mandi A. Miles' photostream: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mandiamiles/4724866041/in/pool-2112236@N20-15477563@N06
(5) Whales and hunting. (2011). Retrieved November 20, 2014, from http://www.whalingmuseum.org/learn/research-topics/overview-of-north-american-whaling/whales-hunting
(7) 10 ways you can help marine life every day. (1994). Retrieved November 30, 2014, from http://www.savethewhales.org/you_can_do.html
It was very clear what you were trying to get across, but I would add more color into the blog to capture attention more. Also, make your references larger so they are easier to read. You can also make your headings all bold and possibly a different color than the rest of your text so they pop out more when reading.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I have to say would be I think your in-text citations are supposed to go before the period. Also, the sentence "People kill them, and many times leave their families and calves behind!" could be reworked because it sounds like it is the people who are leaving their families and calves behind, not the whales. Maybe bolding the titles before your paragraphs would help them to stand out a little more.
ReplyDelete