Climate: how do whales help us preserve ecosystems?

whale activity is an aid that could prove invaluable in the fight against global warming. As the Financial Times in a video spotted by International mail, these cetaceans are capable of storing up to 33 tonnes of carbon dioxide on their own, which has a significant impact on the preservation of marine ecosystems. By way of comparison, the Financial Times points out that a whale in the ocean can reduce CO2 levels as much as several thousand trees.

When they die, whales can therefore contain up to 33 tonnes of carbon dioxide in their bodies and all this stock then vegetates, for several centuries, at the bottom of the oceans. However, the British daily warns that this animal is one of the main victims of industrial fishing. Across the globe, there are only 5,000 blue whales left today, compared to 250,000 in the last century.

Whale droppings also capture a lot of carbon

This drastic drop had serious environmental consequences since since 1900, 70 million tonnes of carbon dioxide have been released into the atmosphere due to the decrease in the number of whales, scientists explain. This quantity corresponds to what 15 million cars reject in one year.

The protection of whales is therefore a subject of the utmost importance according to scientists to preserve the environment as well as possible, by decarbonizing the planet. In addition to their ability to store carbon dioxide, these animals are also essential through their excrement. Rich in nutrients, they essentially constitute a phytoplankton farm, which captures nearly 40% of all the carbon produced on our planet.


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