Humpback Whales Come Back

Erich sent me a link to this news item about recovery in population of humpback whales. Buried in the news item is this information:

"The focus on this year's hunt is the humpback, which was in serious danger of extinction just a few decades ago. They are now a favorite of whale-watchers for their playful antics at sea, where the beasts — which grow as large as 40 tons — throw themselves out of the water.

Humpbacks feed, mate and give birth near shore, making them easy prey for whalers, who by some estimates depleted the global population to just 1,200 before the 1963 moratorium. The southern moratorium was followed by a worldwide ban in 1966...

...The American Cetacean Society estimates the humpback population has recovered to about 30,000-40,000 — about a third of the number before modern whaling. The species is listed as "vulnerable" by the World Conservation Union. [my bold]

I am on Cafe Hayek!

I emailed Don Boudreaux of Cafe Hayek and he promptly wrote up this blog here. I feel honored and hope that his readers will in turn forward news about human progress for this blog.

"'Fast economic growth' in Africa"

That's the headline on BBC News today. It starts with:

The economic outlook for Africa is improving after a decade of growth of 5.4% for the continent that matches global rates, the World Bank has said. The trend indicates that a fundamental change is occurring in Africa, a World Bank official told the BBC.