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The world's largest shipping line reroutes its ships to avoid hitting whales

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Good morning. I'm Steve Inskeep.

The endangered blue whale is found off the southern tip of Sri Lanka, and cargo ships steam right through its habitat. They can strike and kill the whales, which is why the decision of one shipping company matters. The Mediterranean Shipping Company, which is the world's largest shipping line, rerouted its ships. Blue whales live 70 to 80 years, and somewhere right now is a whale that will live a bit longer.

It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.