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Just off the coast of Los Angeles, a group of blue whales have started to feed near the largest port in the United States. This creates an interesting sight for tourists and inhabitants of Los Angeles, but with all of the container ships going back and forth each day, the whales are in danger of getting hit and severely injured or even killed by the large boats.

These whales have been tracked by scientific research teams using GPS technology, and the scientists have determined that the whales travel along the Californian coast during the months between May and December. Because of the density of the blue whales, the area around the port has the largest concentration of blue whales along the coast.

These whales appear almost daily, and sightseers come from around the country to get an up close view of these beautiful creatures, but while the whales are enjoying all the food they can eat, they are travelling right in the path of hundreds of vessels each day.

The blue whale population along the West Coast is thought to be around 2,500 whales, but with these ships killing whales each year, the recovery and growth of this species is at risk. The blue whales are an endangered species, but it has been growing in population over the past few decades.

In 2007 alone, 4 blue whales were killed near Santa Barbara, and wildlife officials began monitoring the whales using GPS coordinates and air patrol. By monitoring the whales, wildlife officials can talk to freighters and let them know when they need to slow down. Scientists have been photographing and tagging these whales for the past two years, and interns and scientists use this information to track and monitor the activity of the whales.

By using the GPS technology, researchers can learn when and where the whales approach the surface and how long they dwell near the surface. With the GPS technology, scientists are trying to save the species, and have been able to determine the habits of the whales in order to change the activities and paths of the ships that pose a large threat to these whales.