Business whaling and environment modification are hindering evolutionary modification in Arctic whales
Bowhead whales are the longest-lived mammals in the world with some able to live centuries. What's more, Inuit hunters have actually observed these whales breaking ice over half a metre thick-- ice strong enough to support a fully-loaded semi truck.
The living varieties of the narwhal whales overlap with those of the bowheads in the Arctic. Narwhals were main to northern European folklore about the famous unicorn due to their unique tusk.
Regardless of their renowned status in the eyes of numerous, both of these spectacular animals have actually dealt with centuries of violent persecution by human business whalers. Bowhead whales, in specific, were treasured for their blubber, oil, bones and filter feeding system from 1540 up until the 20th century-- a duration enduring almost 400 years...