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Beluga whales hunted for food
Belugas are hunted only as part of a subsistence hunt for Inuit or First Nations communities. Throughout Nunavut and Nunavik, 456 belugas were hunted in 2006, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada figures. The annual harvest is regulated through area and seasonal closures, and by a "total allowable catch." Belugas are hunted only as part of a subsistence hunt for Inuit or First Nations communities. Throughout Nunavut and Nunavik, 456 belu... more
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Caribbean Monk Seal Extinct, U.S. Officials Declare
Federal officials in the U.S. have confirmed what biologists have long thought: The Caribbean monk seal has gone the way of the dodo.
Humans hunting the docile creatures for food, skins, and blubber left the population unsustainable, say biologists, who warn that Mediterranean and Hawaiian monk seals could be the next to go.
From the 1700s to 1900s the seals were killed mainly for their blubber, which was processed into oils, used for lubrication, and applied as a coating on the bottom of boats.
The seals once had a population of more than 250,000, but they became easy game for hunters because they often rested, gave birth, or nursed their pups on beaches.
Seal skins were used for trunk linings, clothing, straps, and bags.
The Caribbean seals were classified as endangered in 1967, and wildlife experts investigated several reported sightings over the past few decades. But officials determined the animals spotted were actually other seal types.
"We must act now to reduce threats to existing monk seal populations before it's too late," she said. "These animals are important to the balance and health of the ocean. We can't afford to wait."
Monk seals are particularly sensitive to human disturbance, and the creatures have been losing their food supplies and beach habitats, officials say. Federal officials in the U.S. have confirmed what biologists have long thought: The Caribbean monk seal has gone the way of the dodo. ... more -
Things We Learned From Judy Blume
Judy Blume: America's one woman sex ed class. Thank you, Judy.
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