The Florida Panther

(Puma Concolor Coryi)

http://www.takepart.com/sites/default/files/styles/tp_gallery_slide

By: Jared Lazor

http://d2755oiro89yeo.cloudfront.net

        

          The Florida Panther was listed as an endangered species in 1967. It was not until 1973 where it received federal protection under the Endangered Species Act, created that year. The Florida Panther plays a very vital role in the Southern Florida environment; as the top predator, it regulates the food chain. Much like wolves, panthers will stalk and kill the easiest prey, whether that prey is old, young, sick, or just slow, it will take it out. This natural selection leads to less diseased and stronger built communities of prey, cycling down the food chain. With this in mind Panthers are very beneficial and necessary to their environment.

About the Florida Panther

        The Florida Panther, or Puma Concolor Coryi, is a subspecies of the Puma. It is the last Puma subspecies located on the Eastern coast. These panthers range from 6 to 7 feet long, and males tend to be larger in size. They are covered in tan fur, with white or gray stomachs and chests. It is easy to spot a Florida panther because most have a kink in their tail, and a rough patch of fur on their back. They are also commonly covered in dark markings on their face, tail, and ears . All panthers are carnivores commonly hunting: white tailed deer, feral hogs, raccoons, and other mammals and reptiles (National Wildlife Federation).

                     

                      Habitat

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/FloridaPantherHabitat.png

Panthers once ranged from Florida down to Louisiana inhabiting all of the land in-between. This is no longer the case, they now have less than 5% of this range. There is only one breeding population located in the southern tip of Florida, in swamplands like the Everglades National Park, and Big Cypress National Reserve (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). This population contains less than 100 individuals, which has risen from about 20 in 1970. Panthers are greatly affected by this loss of habit. The first reason is that males will roam and mark territories in an area of 250 square miles. Since they are very territorial animals it is not easy for them to share small patches of land with other males. With them roaming such large areas they often come in contact with human society. Because of the development of residential and commercialized buildings, these panthers often find themselves crossing busy intersections. While crossing they are generally struck and killed by cars. Panthers live in warm climate habitats within Florida: wetlands, swamps, and upland forests.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/resources/listimg/old

Main Threats

          Since there is very few Florida panthers left they are very vulnerable to just about every threat. They were once a thriving subspecies until humans killed them off out of fear, and because of their killing of livestock. The biggest problem that these animals are facing today is habitat loss. Since the panther is so territorial it cannot live with a large group in such a small area. Since all of these highways, buildings, and homes are being built on what was once their habitat, panthers are forced into finding new areas. With this mix of panthers and civilization there is no good outcome and leads to the second threat which is human-wildlife conflicts (National Wildlife Federation). With the total population of panthers under 100 it has created a system of interbreeding between the population. The male panthers are eventually mating with their daughters because the population is so close. When this inbreeding takes place many of the offspring lack the proper ability to form their sperm leading to infertile individuals. This leads to very low genetic diversity for the all future generations. When the genetic diversity is very low it allows all individuals to be more susceptible to disease. With this susceptibility a disease had spread around called feline leukemia virus. This killed off panthers very fast. Fortunately the remaining panthers were given vaccines to prevent from contracting the disease (Florida Panther Net). 

http://www.onearth.org/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_image                      

              Recovery Plan

The Florida Panther was one of the first animals to be placed under the Endangered Species Act in 1973. It is listed as an endangered animal. It is placed on the endangered list for Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). It has had three revisions to its recovery plan. The originally approved in 1981, then the first revision was approved 1987, the second was approved in 1995, and the third was approved in 2008.  “The recovery goal is to achieve long-term viability of the Florida Panther to a point where it can be reclassified from endangered to threatened, and then removed from the Federal List of endangered and threatened species,”(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Reclassification will be considered when, “two viable populations of at least 240 individuals (adults and subadults) each have been established and subsequently maintained for a minimum of twelve years,”(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Once this is accomplished delisting will be considered when, “three viable, self-sustaining populations of at least 240 individuals (adults and subadults) each have been established and subsequently maintained for a minimum of twelve years,” (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). The estimated date of recovery if all actions are fully funded and implemented as outlined, including full cooperation of all partners needed to achieve recovery, criteria for reclassification from endangered to threatened could be accomplished within 30 years; criteria for delisting could be accomplished within 45 years following reclassification. However, due to the challenging nature of panther recovery these are estimates that will be reevaluated as recovery actions are implemented,” (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

https://twistedsifter.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/a50-netherlands-animal-bridge

What you can do

        As an individual you can raise awareness about the threats hurting these animals. Florida Panthers are not vicious aggressive animals, and will commonly shy away from any human in sight. It is possible to write to the Florida Governor, Rick Scott, about not allowing anymore kinds of development in areas where panthers are residing. We can also emphasize the importance of a reintroduction of panthers into new areas that are more viable for the panthers. There is also a way to exercise the importance of being safe and careful while driving so that more of the panthers are not killed crossing roads. There are other countries that have built animal bridges which are basically grassy roads that go over highways which allow animals to pass from one side to the other. This would be very beneficial for all animals not only the Florida panther.

Works Cited

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "Florida PantherNet."
       http://www.floridapanthernet.org/index.php/handbook/threats/disease/#.VmSbRpNdUgk
       Date Accessed: 1 December, 2015

National Wildlife Federation. "Florida Panther." https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-                             Library/Mammals/Florida-Panther.aspx. Date Accessed: 25 November, 2015

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Florida Panther Recovery Plan."
       http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/081218.pdf.  Date Accessed: 23 November, 2015

Peninsular Bighorn Sheep

Peninsular Bighorn Sheep

By 

Dylan Landon

Who Are We Dealing With Here?

http://www.bighorninstitute.org/endangered.html

             The Peninsular Bighorn Sheep is a subspecies of Desert Bighorn living in the Peninsular Ranges in San Diego, Riverside, and Imperial Counties. From light brown to dark grey The Peninsular Bighorn Sheep have a variety of fur colors. They also have some very distinct features, including large curved horns for butting, and hooves for climbing mountain terrain. Besides their physical distinctiveness, the sheep are known to be herbivore, K-selected, climbing, prey animals. The male Bighorns are called "rams" and the females are "ewes".

https://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/Bighorn/images/bighorn_CA.pdf

          The Peninsular Bighorn Sheep has some unique habitat needs. Because they are avid climbers, they dwell in the steeper mountain 

terrain of Southern California. The Bighorns use their skill at maneuvering over rugged terrain to escape potential predators such as mountain lions. The highlands also offer larger boulders or cliffs for them to find protection in from heat or snow. Melting snow often produces a reliable water resource for them throughout the drier seasons.

            So what’s going on?

            On March 18^th 1998, the Peninsular Bighorn Sheep was listed on the Endangered Species Act as endangered. The major problem for the sheep is habitat fragmentation. What they need is a large area where they can dwell mainly in upper parts of mountains, but travel down valleys and flat lands for water and more accessible foliage. What they have now is strips of highways and freeways shattering their migratory area. The habitat fragmentation also causes them to become preyed upon more effortlessly. With the space for them to run or hide limited by infrastructure and urban development, they run out of places to go.

https://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/Bighorn/Desert/Peninsular/

            How Have Things Changed?

https://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/Bighorn/Desert/Peninsular/

            According to the Center for Biological Diversity, almost two million bighorns were thriving throughout North America. Today however there is an estimated population of just 70,000 in the entire continent. With estimated as few as 334 of the animals being in the Peninsular ranges. Where there used to be several thousand, today there is only a few hundred. It is wretched to think that this devastating decline is chiefly caused by human actions. Something to keep in mind is that the development that dwindled these populations down to what they are today, still not only exists, but also continues to grow.

            Is There Something You Could Do?       
 

            The Bighorns need our help. In the future the primary effort is in trying to attain and recover more habitat for them. More protected land without human caused fragmentation will result in an increase in their population sizes. Additional land will provide safer migration, an increase in food sources, additional shelter areas, and likely easier access to water. In the meantime, wildlife restoration biologists agree that overseeing the adult populations will be the most positively influential to population sizes.

http://www.kenpapai.com/travels/coachella2004.html

            There is only a faint chance of delisting by 2025 because not all the criteria is being met for the Peninsular Bighorn Sheep’s recovery. It is possible that it could take numerous decades before their populations reach full recovery. So what can we do? Because they are so elusive and it is difficult for an individual to alter an entire habitat, our efforts should be put to supporting the organizations with the number and power to make a quicker change. An example would be if you were to volunteer or donate to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Peninsular Desert Bighorn Sheep Program.

-Fun Facts About Peninsular Bighorn Sheep-

                            ~ Provided by "The Nature Conservancy"

• Extreme eyesight: Bighorns see better than most mammals—their vision is about eight times more powerful than that of humans. They can spot a person walking in the desert more than a mile away.
• The battle of the horns: Rams often compete for ewes by participating in head-butting contests. They can charge each other at speeds of more than 20 mph, and when their horns crash it produces a sound that can be heard more than a mile away. These clashes may last as long as 20 hours!
• With rings come wisdom: The age of a bighorn can be determined by counting the rings on its horns—one year for each ring.
• Those hardheaded males: Male sheep horns can weigh as much as 30 pounds and can reach up to 33 inches long! Ewes’ horns typically max out at 8–10 inches in length.
• Girl power: Rams live an average of 9–12 years, while ewes edge them out with an average lifespan of 10–14 years.
• Lean machines: With compact and muscular bodies, mature rams in the peninsular ranges weigh more than 200 pounds; mature ewes weigh 105–130 pounds on average.
• They grow up fast: Young lambs can walk and climb as well as their mothers can within a day, and they remain with their mothers for the first year of their lives.

To donate, volunteer, or find out more visit: https://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/Bighorn/Desert/Peninsular/

Also try the links below each photo and cited at the at the end!

Works Cited

Bighorn Institute. Endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep. 9 July 2015. 19 November 2015 <www.bighorninstitute/endangered.html>.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Peninsular Desert Bighorn Sheep. 4 March 2004. 19 November 2015 <www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/bighorn/desert/peninsular>.

Center for Biological Diversity. Biological Diversity. 12 June 2009. 13 November 2015 <www.biologicaldiversity.ore/species/mammals/peninsular_bighorn_sheep/#>.

The Nature Conservancy. Peninsular Bighorn Sheep- Our Majestic Desert Icon. 8 May 2012. 18 November 2015 <www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/california/placesweprotect/the-nature-conservancy-in-california-peninsular-bighorn-sheepour-majest.xml>.

U.S, Fish and Wildlife Service. "Recovery Plan for Bighorn Sheep in the Peninsular Ranges, California." 25 October 2000. Environmental Conservation Online System. Esther Rubin. 7 November 2015 <ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/001025.pdf>.

The Steller Sea Lion

The Steller Sea Lion

By Jade Losinski

In 1990, the Endangered Species Act listed the Eumetopias Jubatus, or Steller sea lion, as a threatened species. However, they were reclassified their Western population as 'endangered' in 1997. The Sea Lions are separated into two different groups, Western and Eastern Steller sea lions. While the Eastern population of Sea Lions has stabilized  and thrived over times the Western population of Sea Lions still continues to decline tremendously. 

Description: 

The steller sea lion is classified as a pinniped. Pinnipeds are defined as "a large group of marine mammals that are widely distributed and  a diverse group of carnivorous, fin-footed, semiaquatic animals". They are large creatures, males weighing in at an average of 1,250 pounds and females at 700 pounds and ranging from 8-11 feet long. These sea lions have a tan-ish, light brown coloring when dry - however, appear dark brown or almost black when wet. Most sea lions have a strong thick coat to shield themselves from rough terrain and cold weather. Their fur is not the only thing that protects them from extreme temperatures. Pinnipeds are known for their thick layers of blubber that insulate their bodies. 

Food:

The Steller sea lion has a diet of different sea creatures such as: walleye pollock, herring, capelin, mackerel, rockfish, and salmon; andcephalopods such as squid and octopuses. They often move from the Northern Pacifics Coasts in areas between Japan and California to hunt for their food. 

Habitat:

Steller sea lions are usually located throughout the Pacific Rim and about 70 percent of the Steller sea lion population resides in Alaska. From 1980 to 2000, more than 80% of the Steller sea lion vanished from the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea. This left less than 55,000 sea lions in the once large population.

Threats to Steller Sea Lion:

Marine Biologists have had trouble finding a distinct factor causing the decline in this population. They have come to the conclusion that many different causes contribute to their endangerment. These factors include

•  Predation by killer whale (the sea lion's main predator is the killer whale)
• Declining food sources (due to over fishing by fisheries and pollution)
• Climate change affecting the ocean currents (creating dead zones, killing the ground fish that are a food source for sea lions)
• Increased diseases (sea lions become introduced to new diseases from other animals or humans they are not immune to and their genetic diversity is not strong enough to withstand the new diseases)
• Pollutants present in water (pollutants affect sea lions themselves and their prey by making them sick and introducing them to toxins)
• Human interactions and disturbances (illegal hunting, habitat destruction, etc.)
• Bycatch (accidental catching of sea creatures such as sea lions during commercial fishing)

 All of these factors contributed to the rapidly declining population of the Western portion of the Steller sea lion species. In 1997, the Endangered Species Act recognized the rapidly declining species and reclassified the species as 'endangered',

 not just 'threatened'.

Recovery Plan:

The recovery plan plays as a call to action in many ways. It stated that there should be a no entry zone to protect the animals and decrease the risk of competitive interactions between fisheries and the sea lions. Researchers have been conducting more and more research to further understand the factors involved with this declining population and the necessary preventative measures. The ESA stressed the importance of maintaining a ecosystem with ground fish and sea lions coexisting and providing for each other. Thus the fishing implications they discuss. Since the ESA has created these no entry zones, population sizes have increased slowly at about 3% per year. Since they have implemented these no entry zones hunting of sea lions for the fur and meat has decreased. This slow improvement is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to protect this declining population of pinnipeds.

What YOU Can Do:

There are not many things the public can do to help the recovery of these animals. Because the factors causing the endangerment are so inconclusive it is hard for the general public to change their actions. The few things we can do are to lessen our pollution and help the ESA conduct research to find a way to save this species.

Works Cited 

Alaska Fisheries Science Center. "Steller Sea Lions in Alaska: Complexity of the Problem." Steller Sea Lion Research Overview. Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 2003. Web. 04 Dec. 2015.

National Marine Fisheries Service. Recovery Plan for the Steller Sea Lion: Eastern and Western Distinct Population Segments (Eumetopias Jubatus): REVISION. N.p.: National Marine Fisheries Service, n.d. 2008. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.

National Marine Fisheries Service. Recovery Plan for the Steller Sea Lion: Eastern and Western Distinct Population Segments (Eumetopias Jubatus): REVISION. N.p.: National Marine Fisheries Service, n.d. 2008. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.

North Pacific Universities Marine Mammal Research Consortium. "Distribution." Steller Sea Lions Northern Fur Seals Marine Mammal Research Consortium Steller Sea Lion Research. North Pacific Universities Marine Mammal Research Consortium, 2014. Web. 04 Dec. 2015.

Saundry, Peter. "Steller Sea Lion." Steller Sea Lion. The Encyclopedia of Earth, 29 Oct. 2008. Web. 04 Dec. 2015.

"Steller Sea Lions, Eumetopias Jubatus." MarineBio.org. MarineBio, 2015. Web. 04 Dec. 2015.

World Wildlife Fund. "Sea Lion." World Wildlife Fund. World Wildlife Fund, 2015. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.

Florida Manatee

The Florida Manatee

By: Vivian Mason

                                                 

manatees at rest

http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/687/cache/manatee-florida-nicklen_68757_990x742.jpg

What is a ‘Manatee’?

Often referred to as the cow of the sea or simply sea cow, the manatee maintains a lackadaisical lifestyle. A manatee is generally eight to thirteen feet long and weights roughly 440 to 1,300 pounds. Yet this massive mammal is surprisingly adapt within the water. Moving along at roughly 5 miles an hour, with the potential to hit 15 miles an hour (for short amounts of time), the manatee propels itself with its strong tail.

Manatees are primarily solo creatures, occasionally found in pairs and on a rare occasion (or breeding season) within a group of roughly half a dozen animals. When searching out a manatee one will primarily only observe this large mammal’s nose and nostrils above water, as they do not ever leave the water. Every fifteen minutes a manatee must surface to breathe, unless swimming, in which case they must surface every three to four minutes. All manatee species share these characteristics. 

Different manatee species live in different areas. There are three species of manatees, one ranging from Florida to Brazil, another the Amazon River and the final one in the rivers and west coast of Africa. This blog focuses upon the Florida manatee.        

      

 All manatees are born underwater. The mothers help the newborns to the surface to breath their first breaths and then stay with them until they’re able to swim (usually within an hour). A manatees lifespan is roughly forty years. The babies then drink their mothers’ milk until they are able to become avid grazers like their elders. A single manatee can eat its entire body weight within a single day. They graze upon algae, weeds and grasses, making them herbivores. 

manatees grazing 

 http://nazarethmanateeproject.weebly.com/uploads/1/7/7/2/17723745/9106170_orig.jpg

Specifics of a Florida Manatee 

      

The main difference of the Florida manatee than any other manatee is their geographical range and population numbers. This species of manatee lives in freshwater, brackish and marine habitats. They rely on power plant outfalls and the warm water from natural springs closer to the Florida coast, during the cold winter months. In the summer they can range as far west as Texas on the Gulf coast and as far north as Rhode Island on the Atlantic coast ("Manatee."). Reflecting back to the 1980’s the population was roughly estimated to be about 1,200 individuals, which put this gentle giant on the endangered species list. Most recently, due to a highly successful recovery plan the manatee numbers were seen to be 3,276 in January of 2001. The Florida manatee is a unique species that should be protected and loved. 

Florida manatee range 

                                               

     http://www.realestatesarasota.net/images/manateemap.jpg

Florida Manatees Become Endangered

On March 11, 1967 the Florida manatee became listed on the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. This gentle giant was listed as endangered due to its extremely low numbers. Because of a manatee’s frequent visits to coastal waters and rivers they are extremely vulnerable to hunters seeking their oil, bones and hides. This was the main reason for their mass decline throughout the last century. Since becoming an endangered species they sadly continue to face threats from humans in their natural habitats. The main two being entanglement in fishing nets and motorboats strikes in ever more crowded waters. The manatee would most likely not exist today if it had not been listed.

Manatee awareness verses manatee being hunted

  

http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/wp-content/uploads/caution-manatee1.jpg

http://www.konicaminolta.com/kids/endangered_animals/library/sea/img/amazonian-manatee_img02.gif

Florida Manatee Recovery Plan

The Florida manatee is considered a valuable part of the ecosystem and therefore has its own recovery plan. Beginning on April 15, 1980 this plan has gone through three revisions and on January 29, 1996 it reach its current stage. The goal of this plan is (as stated) “to assure the long-term viability of the Florida manatee in the wild, allowing initially for reclassification to threatened status and, ultimately, removal from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife.” (Florida Manatee Recovery Plan). To accomplish this goal the US Fish and Wildlife Service will “reduce threats to manatee habitat or range, as well as threats from natural and manmade factors” (Florida Manatee Recovery Plan). 

The three main ways they will do this is: 

1. Ensuring the protection of warm-water sites, often used for refuge. 
2. Make note of and protect foraging habitats associated with these warm water refuges. 
3. Cutting down the amount of unauthorized human take. 

Once all of these actions are put into effect the manatee is expected to make a promising recovery. The total cost of implementing these actions is estimated to be $10,000,000. This large sum is completely worth it, primarily because humans are the main cause of the Florida manatee coming so close to extinction. 

 What can you do?

1) Symbolic Florida manatee adoption: click here for adoption 

     This helps by providing the funding to protect a single manatee, while at the same getting the word out via adoption gifts.

2) SPEAK UP! Tell family and friends of this elegant gentle giant, through social media or verbal communication. By doing so the            

             Florida manatee becomes known and therefore more likely to gain more help.

3)   Donate: http://www.savethemanatee.org/donateother.htm 

     By donating you’re directly aiding the manatee. 

The Florida Manatee 

http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get2/I0000rWZstmP1ETY/fit=1000x750/Manatee-more-CGrant-PS-132-4.jpg 

List of References 

"Manatee." National Geographic. National Geographic, n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2015.

Florida Manatee Recovery Plan:. Atlanta, GA: Region, 1989. Florida Manatee Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Web. 3 Dec. 2015.

"Florida Manatee." Defenders of Wildlife. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2015.

Sperm Whale

Sperm Whales

By: Brianne Martinho

http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/128/590x/secondary/131825.jpg#Sperm%20Whale%20590x350

Physeter macrocephalus

Sperm whales skin is usually dark gray to black and sometimes light gray, Sperm whales have massive heads and rounded foreheads, that is due to the fact that they have the largest brain known to have lived. Sperm whales use echolocation to catch their prey. Sperm whales dive as deep as 1,000 meters in hunt for squid to eat. This requires them to hold their breath for up to 90 minutes. (National Geographic). The sperm whale males range from 50-60 feet and females 33-40 (Enchanted Learning). This allows them to move up to 23 miles per hour. Sperm Whales typically live 60-80 years and produce few offspring with great maternal care, making them a K-selected species.

What is their habitat and location?

Sperm Whales have a global distribution in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Populations are often divided on an ocean basin level (National Fish and Wildlife). Sperm whales live in groups called pods. The pods consist of females and their young. The males tend to live solo. Female whales take care of their young as a k-selected species and the females and calves tend to live year long in the tropical and subtropical waters together. The males travel back to higher latitudes towards the equator to mate again (National Geographic). 

http://www.whales.org.au/discover/sperm/spermd.gif

Population and Listing

Sperm whales current global population is not an exact estimate due to their wide range and detection ability. The estimate is approximately 200,000 whales worldwide (Enchanted Learning). Sperm Whales were globally listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act on December 2, 1970. With the recovery plan updated and improved in December of 2010.

Main Threats

  

The current main threats to whales are collisions with vessels and direct harvest. It is assumed that whales are also threatened by competition for resources, loss of prey base due to climate change, and disturbance from anthropogenic noise The main threat throughout history has been whale harvesting. Sperm whales were greatly harvested for their meat, oil, and ambergris. Spermaceti is a high quality oil that sperm whales produce. Ambergris is a very valuable substance use to make perfumes. Commercial whaling was ended in 1988 with a moratorium against whaling buy the International Whaling Commission. However it is suspected that Sperm whales are still being targeted because some countries refused to implement the moratorium. There is small catch in Indonesia and and Japan for scientific purposes. There is also some evidence that Sperm whales are being illegally hunted in some parts of the world (National Fish and Wildlife).

Recovery Plan

The recovery plan's purpose is to minimize or eliminate the effects of human activities on sperm whale populations. The first actions are to identify factors that are limiting the population and cite actions needed for recovery. Next is to determine population structure of the species. This would aid in estimating an accurate population size and determining range. The recovery plan is enacted though international communication due to the wide range of Sperm whales (National Fish and Wildlife). Ensure significant threats addressed by managing commercial and direct harvest at a sustainable level, competition with fisheries are being addressed, and everything else is still being studied. 

What YOU Can Do

Anyone can take into action of raising awareness of these whales. People can fight against the sport of whaling these animals. As you prepare to sail out on a boat know the migration patterns so mortality by boat is reduced. These whales prey is destroyed due to global warming. Everyone can contribute to reducing the increase in global warming by reducing their carbon footprint. The carbon footprint can decrease with less electricity, recycle, and less fossil fuels released into the air. 

Fun Fact

The fictional Moby Dick was a Sperm whale (Enchanted Learning).

Works Cited

Encahanted Learning. Sperm Whale. 1996. 2 December 2015 <http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/whales/species/Spermwhale.shtml>.

National Fish and Wildlife. December 2010. 2 December 2015 <http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/Sperm_whale_Recovery_Plan.pdf>.

National Geographic. Sperm Whale. 2 December 2015 <http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/sperm-whale/>.