| The critically endangered western gray
whale, Eschrichtius robustus, once thought extinct, now clings to life;
numbering less than 100 individuals. This population was hunted to near
extinction, remains severely depleted, and has yet to demonstrate a successful
reproductive rate -- exhibiting less than a 40% calf survival . As you
will see the western gray whale faces many challenges from human activities.
Most importantly there is the intense oil and gas development going on
within the whales' summer feeding grounds. These waters, located off the
coast of eastern Sakhalin Island, Russian Federation have become the remote
summer home to a dedicated research team of U.S. and Russian scientists.
This team is led by Drs. David Weller, Robert Brownell and the Russian,
Dr. Alexander M. Burdin. This short video aims to serve as an introduction
to this population with the intention that a feature length documentary
can be made. Such a film will surely focus on the migratory path this whale
navigates from Sakhalin Island, Russian Federation to the still undiscovered
winter breeding grounds located somewhere in the South China Sea. |