Shrinking whales study could lead to early warning system for endangered species

Whales were shrinking in size ahead of a global population collapse last century, new research has revealed, with scientists saying the finding may help them set up an early warning system for other species.

A study from the University of Tasmania and Switzerland's University of Zurich showed that for 40 years the average size of commercially harvested whales was dropping dramatically.

Researchers said it was an early warning sign that the species was in trouble.

Professor Mark Hindell from the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) said the research looked at records of abundance and body size of four species of whales before the 1985 commercial whaling moratorium.

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