Whaling data by scientific permit, aboriginal catches, and whales taken under objection by the International Whaling Commission from 1985-2007

For more information check out Thriving Oceans and “Whaling under the guise of science”

In February 2008 the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned to list the Pacific walrus under the Endangered Species Act because of the increasing loss sea ice habitat.

There are 3 recognized subspecies: Atlantic Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus); Pacific Walrus (O. r. divergens); and Laptev Walrus (O. r. laptevi)

The Bering-Chukchi population was estimated at approximately 230,000 in 1985 and 201,000 in 1990, which is the most recent population estimate

The number of Pacific Walrus in the Laptev Sea region was at one time reported to be 4,000-5,000 individuals. Some recent estimates have put the population above 5,000.

Recent information indicates a population size of perhaps 18,000-20,000 for the Atlantic Walrus

Walruses are one of the largest pinnipeds with Pacific males reaching approximately 3.6 meters in length and weighing 880-1,557 kg. Adult females can reach lengths of 3 meters and a weight of 580-1,039 kg. The Atlantic adults are slightly shorter and lighter.

Used for detecting prey,  stiff bristles (mystacial vibrissae) that number from 600 to 700 cover their snouts.

Lifespan is 40 years

“In the summer of 2007, 3,000 to 4,000 mostly young walrus died in stampedes at the extremely-dense,  and haulouts on the Chukotka coast, which represents significant mortality.” (Center for Biological Diversity, 2008)

Approximately 7% of the total pacific walrus population spent their summer in the Bristol Bay area in 1985

The types of prey for the Pacific walrus is comprised of more than 60 genera and 10 phyla

~85-95% of their diet are clams

A single walrus may consume more than 6000 clams in a single 16 to 17 hour feeding

The Pacific walrus population reached an all-time low in the 1950s with only 45,000 animals remaining. The cause is attributed to increased human harvesting.
Data: IUCN, Center for Biological Diversity

Of the initial 8 recognized subspecies of tiger, 2 (Balinese, Javan) have become extinct and the remaining 6 (Bengal, Indo-Chinese, Sumatran, Siberian/Amur, South China, Malayan) are endangered.  As of 2008, approximately 1,400 Bengal tigers are all that remain in the wilds of India and are hanging on to existence via a variety of nature preserves. On the other hand, the Siberian tiger has been reduced to a wild population of 400 to 450 individuals.

The Siberian or Amur tiger has a worldwide captive population just under 500: North American Species Survival Plan population is 150 tigers, European Breeding Program population approximately 225 tigers, Japanese zoos retain about 90 tigers.

As of 1998, an estimated 400 to 500 Sumatran tigers roamed the wilds, but some current numbers suggest as few as 136 tigers are left.  The captive population includes 65 Sumatran tigers in Indonesian zoos, 55 tigers in North American zoos, 100 in European zoos, and 12 in Australasian zoos.

By 1995, officials believed the wild South China tiger population had dwindled to less than 20 individuals.

There is an estimated wild population of Indo-Chinese tigers from 700 to 1,225.

At least 500 tigers are thought to remain in Malaysia.

Javan Tiger  has been extinct since the early 1980′s

Bali Tiger has been extinct  since the 1940′s

Decline of all tiger species
1900 = 100,000
1950 = 60,000
1960 = 45,000
1970 = 30,000
1980 = 25,000
1990 = 7,000
2008 = 2,200-3,100
2025 = extinct in wild

A genetic note:
The classification of tiger subspecies has taken a few turns recently as the Indo-Chinese subspecies, after genetic analysis, was found to actually harbor two distinct populations and as such was split to include the Indo-Chinese and Malayan populations in 2004. Here is a link to the publication.

In January 2009, genetic analysis revealed that the previously recognized Caspian subspecies, extinct in the wild since the 1970s, is genetically identical to the Siberian tiger. Thus, the number of subspecies remains at 8, but extinct populations have been reduced to 2 and living subspecies increased to 6.

Data: Big Cat Rescue, Save the Tiger Fund, IUCN

There are about 80 species of cetaceans, which includes dolphins, porpoises and whales.

The great whale grouping includes all baleen whales and the toothed sperm whale, and range in size from 30 to 100 feet in length.

In 1994 the International Whaling Commission established a sanctuary in the waters around the Antarctic, which permanently bans whaling.  However, a loophole provides exemptions for “scientific research”.  As of November 2008, Japan reduced its  whale take from 945 minke whales to 750. However, they did not alter their quota of 50 endangered fin whales.

Great Whale Populations (IWC population estimates)

Minke whale – 970,800
Blue whale – 2,300
Humpback whale – 63,600
Fin whale – 33,200
Gray whale – 26,420
Bowhead whale – 11,730
Right whale – 7,800
Pilot whale – 780,000

There are 8 species of bears and numerous subspecies that have been recognized.

Bears vary in size from the 66 pound sun bear to the 1,500 pound brown bear.

Perhaps the most widely publicized symbol of endangered species, the giant panda was limited to only ~1,600 individuals inhabiting the wild bamboo forests in central China and a captive population of about 180 individuals in 2006.

Population of Threatened Bears as of 2007

Polar Bear – 22,000 to 27,000
Spectacled Bear – 18,250
Sloth bear – 10,000 to 20,000+
Asiatic Black Bear – 15,000 to 20,000
Giant Panda – 1,600
Sun Bear – Unknown (it is suspected that the global population of Sun Bears has declined by > 30% over the past 30 years)

IUCN: Current estimates put the total population of Grevy’s Zebra remaining in the wild in Kenya and Ethiopia at approximately 1,966 to 2,447 (B. Lowe pers. comm. 2008; F. Kebede pers. comm. 2008).  From 1988 to 2007, the global population of Grevy’s Zebra declined approximately 55%.  The worse case scenario is a decline from 1980 to 2007 of 68%.  The number of mature individuals is approximately 750, and the largest subpopulation is approximately 255 mature individuals.

c) Programa de Conservación Ex-situ del Lince Ibérico www.lynxexsitu.es

The critically endangered Iberian Lynx is holding on to life in isolated populations in southwestern Spain and Portugal.  According to the IUCN, “There are only two known breeding populations in Spain, and the latest survey results suggest a minimum of 84 and a maximum of 143 adults surviving in two breeding populations. These populations are isolated from one another making them even more vulnerable. There has been a continuing decline due to severe depletion of its primary prey, the European rabbit, by disease and over-hunting, with additional threats of high rates of non-natural lynx mortality and habitat destruction and fragmentation.”

The remaining pocket in Portugal is considered insufficient for continued survival and experts believe this Iberian lynx population is in danger of extinction.