What are Fin Whales?

About Fin whale: 

• It is the second-largest animal species on the planet, second only to the blue whale.
• It gets its name from an easy-to-spot fin on its back, near its tail.
• It is the fastest swimming of the large whales, known as the greyhound of the seas.
• Distribution:
  • Fin whales inhabit the temperate and polar zones of all major oceans and open seas and, less commonly, in tropical oceans and seas.
  • Some populations are migratory, moving into colder waters during the spring and summer months to feed. In autumn, they return to temperate or tropical oceans.
• Features
  • They have a distinct ridge along their back behind the dorsal fin, which gives it the nickname “razorback.
  • Fin whales have a very unusual feature: the lower right jaw is bright white and the lower left jaw is black.
  • Lifespan: They can live for 80 to 90 years and females are slightly longer than males.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Vulnerable

Q1: What is the role of the International Whaling Commission?

It was set up under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) which was signed in Washington DC in 1946. Its objective is to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry.

Source: Japan To Now Hunt Second-Largest Whale Species

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