The bowhead whale is an endangered species and hunting this animal is prohibited by international law. Overfishing, especially in the nineteenth century drastically reduced the populations of whales. Since it was declared a protected species, their populations have increased a little, the rate of 3 % per year. Environmental factors such as climate change and water pollution now threaten this species. Human activities (from hunting practiced by indigenous people to feed themselves and preserve their traditions, to the farms offshore oil and gas), continue to pose challenges to the survival of these whales.
The bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) is a stocky dark-colored whale without a dorsal fin and it can grow to 20 meters in length. It lives entirely in fertile Arctic and sub-Arctic waters, unlike other whales that migrate to feed or reproduce. It is also known as Greenland right whale or Arctic whale. The bowhead is perhaps the longest-living mammal, and has the largest mouth of any animal.
The bowhead was an early whaling target. Its population was severely reduced before a 1966 moratorium. The population is estimated to be over 24,900 worldwide, down from an estimated 50,000 before whaling.
Its only predators are humans and the orca. On rare occasions, the bowheads are also attacked by sea lions.
So we can say that the bowhead whale is a peaceful and noble animal, with ferocious predators such as orca. But the most terrible enemy to the whale was the human being. Man has hunted disproportionately and often cruelly, has reduced the number of these individuals so far than the bowhead whale is in serious danger of extinction.
