many wild animals are important for their meat, hides and other things this is why people have always hunted these animals. many whales used to swim in the oceans. they swam together in large groups. but whales were needed for their fat. this fat ,called blubber, was used to make whale oi. the oil was butned in lamps for light . whales were also important for their meat and bone. because of this , people hunted and killed whales. more whales were killed than were born. soon there were very few whales. when only a few animals of a certain kind remain, that kind of animal is endangered