Blue Whale (Balaenopteramusculus)

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The largest living mammal on earth, the blue whale belongs to the baleen whales and features more than 100 feet in length and around 200 tonnes in weight. There are at least three subspecies of blue whale and these could be found migrating from both poles in the oceans of the world. Sits on top the food chain, whales have a significant role in maintaining a healthy marine environment.

Unfortunately, the excessive commercial hunting has resulted in the decrease of its population drastically and now has posed a threat to its mere existence even though an international ban was constituted in 1966. According to IUCN's 2016 estimate, the global population of the blue whale is 10,000 - 25,000.

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