Whaling has plagued the oceans for centuries and although it has always had some impact on the ecosystem, since ancient whalers were mostly confined to coastal and near coastal waters the impact was somewhat contained and minimized. This all changed as whaling around the world exploded in the 17th century turning our seas red with the innocent blood of whales. Because whales are often slow moving and are forced to the surface for air, they became easy targets for ruthless hunters who made their fortunes of selling their oil, blubber, and meat taken from whales. Unfortunately, this is a brutal practice that, although it has been made illegal by many around the world, is still threatening the very fragile balance of the ocean and may lead to the complete extinction of many whales. This series will examine a history and impact of whaling both past and present.

Children need to be educated about our planet and all the different life forms that inhabit the earth. Teaching a child about the millions of species of animals that exist in this world, half of them in the rainforests, is a good thing. This article on the endangered rainforest animals for your kids to know covers some of these animals in danger of extinction to create awareness among children. Since our children are the future of our country, teaching them is our duty.

Children need to be made aware that most animal extinction and endangerment is caused by human activities. There are many animal rights activists who strive valiantly to save the endangered species and stop extinction but it is a long, hard battle. Rainforests are under constant threat and saving the rainforest means saving the animals that inhabit the forest. Tropical rainforests are considered to be nature's largest pharmacy due to the numerous natural medicines found there.

Video (1min 52sec): Satellite Study: Biggest Fish, Whale Shark.

The world's biggest fish is being studied in a tagging expedition by marine scientists in Kenya. Penny Tweedie reports.

Whale Sharks have been swimming in the tropical and temperate waters of the world since the time of the dinosaurs.

Whale Sharks grow up to 12 meters (9.8425197 feet) in length, have over 3,000 teeth, and can live for over 100 years.

Research continues on the agricultural and environmental mystery known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). However, finding a cause and a subsequent cure for the problem is fast becoming a race against time for scientists.

The number of disappearing honey bees in recent years is indeed staggering. Many beekeepers estimate that, at the current rate of bee loss, there now may be only a ten year window to find a cure. Colony Collapse Disorder is unique since it leaves bee hives with a queen bee, a few newly-hatched adults, and plenty of food, while all of the worker bees responsible for pollination just disappear.

The fact is that, in the last two years, close to two million colonies of honeybees across the US have been wiped out by CCD. Internationally, the problem has taken the lives of billions of honeybees in Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and the UK. In Taiwan, ten million honey bees are reported to have just vanished.