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Sperm whale
Made famous in Moby Dick, sperm whales have been hunted since the 17th Century. It is the only "great whale" with teeth. Sperm whale oil once lit the lamps of the major cities of the US and Europe; and after WWII, 30,000 a year were being caught. They have been protected since 1982. There are no agreed current estimates of number. Some authors believe the historical population worldwide may have been 1-2 million, and that there may now be 360,000-1 million. Japan has issued a scientific permit to take up to 10 sperm whales in the North Pacific. Status: Vulnerable
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