Can Blue Whales Recover?
Populations off California may have reached historic levels, but that is not the case everywhere.
Estimates vary widely, but there are likely about 10,000 to 25,000 blue whales alive worldwide today, compared to hundreds of thousands before whaling took hold. Off California, however, they may be returning to their historical numbers.
Correction, September 11, 2014: This video originally showed several images of humpback whales instead of blue whales.