21 to 23, 2015, the first ever sighting of a bowhead whale in the Japanese EEZ occurred (the first record of the species in the nation was of a catch record in Osaka Bay on June 23, 1969). Several records from whaling days show blue whales to have been harpooned and landed at Abashiri port, though this species normally does not enter adjacent seas and are now thought to be almost extinct in Japan's waters. As deep, productive water, some species of beaked whales favor the area including Cuvier's beaked whales, Stejneger's beaked whales, and others. Baird's beaked whales, the largest of this group, are most frequently observed close to shore. An unidentified form or subspecies of beaked whale is known to inhabit the waters off Shiretoko Peninsula and Abashiri. Long-finned pilot whales which once inhabited the waters around Hokkaido are thought to have become extinct in the 12th century, but unconfirmed sightings of short-finned pilot whales have been reported in Nemuro Strait though the area is out of their normal range. There is notable flora diversity including endemic Cymathaere japonica, endangered species such as Viola kitamiana (Japanese) which Japanese name was named after Shiretoko Peninsula, Dendranthema arcticum, Astragalus japonicus. Conservation efforts To protect the wild animals and natural environment of the Shiretoko Peninsula, in 1964 a great portion of the peninsula was designated Shiretoko National Park. Since then, the park has been subject to strict regulation as a nature preserve, and entering is prohibited. See also List of peninsulas Shiretoko Ryojō, a song about the Shiretoko Peninsula List of World Heritage Sites in Japan References External links UNESCO listing Management plans of Shiretoko National Park (PDF) by Hokkaido Regional Environment Office (Japanese) Peninsulas of Japan Landforms of Hokkaido Tourist attractions in Hokkaido vi:Vườn quốc gia Shiretoko