Experts revealed that the Pacific gray whale population, which was believed to have fully recovered from whaling, is actually only a small fraction of its historic levels. By analyzing DNA samples from 42 gray whales using a US government tissue collection, scientists from Stanford University and the University of Washington found that the genetic variation among these whales indicated a much larger past population than the current 22,000. They estimated that before large-scale hunting began in the 19th century, there were approximately 96,000 gray whales in the Pacific Ocean, with a range of 76,000 to 118,000. This suggests that the current population represents only 19-29% of what it was before hunting. The gray whale, a large baleen whale that feeds on small sea creatures, has been swimming in the world's oceans for around 20 million years. Researchers recently discovered that the gray whale population has recovered from whaling, but genetic diversity suggests there were once many more gray whales in the Pacific Ocean than there are now. By the end of the 19th century and through the 1920s, the gray whale population was hunted to the brink of extinction, with only a few thousand remaining. The gray whale vanished from the Atlantic Ocean many years ago, possibly due to whaling according to experts. This species migrates along the Pacific Coast of North America, traveling between the Arctic seas and the lagoons near Baja California, Mexico. Named for the gray patches and white mottling on its dark skin, these whales are typically around 46 feet long and can weigh up to 40 tonnes. They feed by scooping up mud from the sea bottom and consuming small crustaceans and tube worms found in sediment. The International Whaling Commission granted partial protection to the gray whale in 1937 and full protection in 1947, according to the American Cetacean Society. Despite being hunted in the past, gray whales are now a popular attraction for whale watchers along the Pacific coast of North America. However, they are still sometimes hunted, as evidenced by five Washington state American Indian hunters who may be prosecuted by their Makah tribe for illegally shooting and killing a gray whale using harpoons and a rifle typically used for hunting elephants. Scientists have observed several gray whales in recent years that are suffering from starvation. The researchers stated that the whales are experiencing a decrease in food availability in their Arctic feeding areas as a result of changing climate conditions. They also mentioned that other animals, such as Arctic seabirds, have been impacted by the reduced population of gray whales. Steve Palumbi, a colleague from Stanford University, explained that seabirds rely on the creatures unearthed by the whales during their feeding activities. He estimated that if there were 96,000 gray whales present, they could have provided food for over a million seabirds each year.