Table of contentsIntroductionWhalesPhysical characteristics of whalesBehavior and reproduction of whalesRoles in the ecosystemFactors that threaten whalesWhaling in IcelandIntroductionSince the beginning of humanity, animals have played an important role in human survival. As noted in a review by Echeverri, A., Karp, DS, Naidoo, R., Zhao, J. and Chan, KMA (2018) entitled Approaching human-animal relations from multiple angles: A Synthetic perspective, Animals are ubiquitous to human lives. Animals have contributed much to man, from survival companions to modern pets as members of their families, gathering their products for business, entertainment, security, pest control, scientific research and, the most common purpose, consumption. It stands to reason that many animals have been used by humans for consumption, whether to raise them and obtain the products they produce or to hunt and then consume the animals themselves. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay But then again, hunting animals does not just mean killing different animal species for consumption. Hunting can also mean killing animals for other uses, such as the medicinal properties of various parts, and even for trophies or ornamental purposes. And while hunting is considered a normal part of life, it is also a very controversial topic for others. According to an article published by the website Scientific American (nd), the practicality or ethics of hunting depends on the person in question. But whether one is for or against hunting, we can agree that excessive hunting can lead to animal population decline and, unfortunately, in some cases, extinction. In a study by William M. Robinson (1986) titled The Case of Hunting, although a minor concern because it is overshadowed by larger environmental threats such as toxic pollution and landscape clearing, hunting still constitutes a threat to the environment. environment. Hunting comes in different forms and methods of implementation. Over thousands of years of history, humans have learned to develop and improve their hunting styles and have even gotten creative in their methods. From land-based hunting methods like big game hunting to aquatic varieties like fishing, hunting has come a long way. This article will focus on a larger scale of the latter method mentioned previously. Whaling, or more commonly referred to as whaling, will be the main topic of this article. A method of hunting that has long been accepted by international countries as banned, but has caused controversy as some countries still refuse to adhere to the banning of this method. This article also aims to discuss whales, their importance and their contribution in more depth. to the ecosystem, whaling, or commonly known as whaling, and its different methods, and the international ban on whaling and the different views and perspectives of countries regarding this law , particularly the three countries known for ignoring the law: Iceland, Japan, and Norway, and the reasons and circumstances that led them to continue to legalize whaling. WhalesPhysical Characteristics of Whales Whales are the creatures of the deep blue. This is a widely distributed group ofmarine mammals belonging to the order Cetacea, which includes other aquatic mammals such as dolphins and porpoises. The Defenders of Wildlife website states that whales are divided into suborders called baleen whales and toothed whales. These suborders differ in their characteristics and diet, with the former having comb-like fringes on their upper jaws that they use to filter out plankton and small fish, while the latter are equipped with teeth that they used to attack larger fish and marine animals, and even other whales. These animals, although living underwater, are mammals. Which means that these warm-blooded animals have lungs and breathe air into them through vents at the top of their heads. They rise to the surface where they breathe and come back down. Whales are also capable of producing milk for their calves. Whales come in all sizes, ranging from 9 feet (dwarf whales, the smallest of their species) to about 30 meters (blue whales, the largest animals on the planet) in length. Their body resembles that of a fish and they have paddle-shaped fins, and most species have fins on their backs called dorsal fins. And like all marine mammals like walruses and seals, whales are covered under their skin with a thick layer of fat called blubber. These fats serve as a source of energy and insulation that keeps their vital organs warm and functional when in colder waters. Whales are also capable of using echolocation as a means of navigation. Whale Behavior and Reproduction There are many species of whales scattered across the world, and many of these animals are known to travel long distances across oceans to migrate. Whales migrate from their feeding grounds to warmer areas in order to breed, and these migrations cover long distances. According to a research article by Guazzo RA, Helble TA, D'Spain GL, Wellew DW, Wiggins SM and Hildebrand JA (2017) titled Migratory behavior of Eastern North Pacific gray whales tracked using a hydrophone array, Eastern North Pacific gray whales (Eschrichtius Robustus Lilljeborg) make the longest migrations, ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 kilometers. These breeding seasons vary between whale species and often produce only a single young or calf. Whales often travel alone or in groups, depending on the species. According to the Defenders of Wildlife website, whales are also known to be active swimmers and communicate with others using sounds of varying frequencies. Roles in the ecosystem Whales play an important role in the marine ecosystem. According to the World Conservation Organization, known as WWF, these animals are at the top of the food chain and are a vital factor in the environment. According to the National Geographic article by Carl Safina and Jessica Perelman (2016) titled The Invisible Importance of Whales, scientists have recently discovered that whales play an important role in stabilizing marine ecosystems. These so-called “ecosystem engineers” control the population of marine inhabitants by their presence alone. Larger whale species require enormous amounts of food to stay alive, which keeps the population of small fish and plankton in check, while dead whales falling to the ocean floor serve as a treat for life underwater. In some ways, whales contribute greatly to maintaining the cycle of life on the high seas. Factors that threaten whales.