| Whale researchers hit the jackpot
Sighting of five blue whales near the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia has raised hopes that world's biggest creatures are returning to Canadian waters. A group of whale watchers/researchers were amazed to spot the largest number of blue whales seen together in the area for over 40 years.
 Five blue whales, including a calf, were seen August 11 and scientists were able to spend more than five hours photographing the back pigment of the majestic animals in a bid to help identify them later. Most whale watchers see humpback whales in this area so this was such a surprise for everyone. Three of the whales were seen again the following day. In the past five years, survey teams around BC have seen only one single blue whale each expedition.
In British Columbia, the blue whale population never recovered, unlike southern California, which has an estimated 2,000 blue whales. The blue whale population has dwindled to near extinction due to commercial whaling. It was once estimated at 300,000 worldwide and even with hunting banned in 1965, only 10,000 of them now exist.
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