Anonymous - 2-1-2005 at 01:10 AM
http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/pls/impreso/noticia.html?id_no...
January 31, 2005
Environmental authorities said 877 gray whales have arrived so far in the sanctuary established for them in Baja California, and they are expecting
the total to exceed the 2,280 registered in the last cycle.
Environment and Natural Resources Secretariat officials said in a statement that the El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, in the San Ignacio and Ojo de
Liebre lagoons of Baja California Sur state, is awaiting the arrival of more of the whales, known as the Pacific gray, California gray or grayback.
In the 2003-2004 cycle, officials counted 2,280 of the whales, "and the tendency in the present season makes us believe that the number for this year
will be similar or greater."
Counts conducted since 1996 point to a permanent rise in the number of gray whales, officials said.
Gray whales, which were nearly hunted to extinction in the 20th century, were removed from the endangered list in 1994 and now number more than
25,000.
Whale watching has become a popular and lucrative ecotourism activity in Baja California, creating jobs and generating income for locals.