The largest living animal, the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) has slowly recovered from whaling only to face the rising challenges of global warming, pollution, disrupted food sources, and other human threats. In a major new study, Flinders University has taken a stocktake of the number, distribution, and genetic characteristics of blue whale populations around the world. The study found the greatest differences among the eastern Pacific, Antarctic subspecies and pygmy Subspecies of the eastern