U.N. Protection For Whales Urged

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30873, 5 October 1965, Page 22

U.N. Protection For Whales Urged

(Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, Oct 4. The world’s two largest animals, which are in danger of becoming extinct may be placed under the protection of the United Nations. They are the 100 ft, 160-ton blue whale and the smaller fin whale.

Mr Peter Scott, chairman of the British National Appeal for the World Wildlife Fund, said the danger of extinction arose from cut-throat competition by whaling companies. It was an “international scandal.” A scheme to save the whales has been prepared by Mr J. A. Gulland, one of the committee bf scientists who advises the International Whaling Commission. It proposed to cut the number of whales fished to 2000 from the present level of 4500 a year, giving them a chance to breed. The whales would be placed under the protection of the United Nations, which would issue licences to whaling companies and would pay compensation for their loss of income. The two species of whale had declined from about 400,000 in 1935 to about 35,000 today, of which a few hundred were blue whales. If the rate of 4500 goes on, the species would be so depleted that they would never recover, according to Mr A. G. Bourne, a special investigator in marine resources.