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Humpback Whale

Humpback whales are one of the few mammals where the females are larger than males, with these giants reaching lengths up to about 18.3 meters (60 feet)! 

 

Humpback whales are primarily found in both the tropical and polar regions of the Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific Oceans, although they are also known to visit waters surrounding the Bering Strait and Antarctica. They are known for their extraordinary migrations from tropical breeding grounds to northern feeding grounds, which can be over 8,046 kilometers ( 5,000 miles) long! During mating season, males will compose intricate songs that can be heard over long distances to attract females. 

Traveling in groups, humpback whales are renowned to awe whale-watching groups as they feed on plankton and large schools of fish. When feeding, these whales take in food and water into their large mouths. Once their mouth is full, they close it and press out the water trapping their prey in the baleen plates so they can swallow their food! These whales can sometimes be observed grouping together to coordinate feeding through a technique called “bubble-netting” where they herd schools of fish together, trapping them in a “net” of bubbles. They then swim upward with their mouths open wide to feed on the fish. 

 

 

While commercial whaling seriously depleted populations, this species has shown remarkable resilience with populations rebounding in certain regions. 

However, humpback whales still face serious threats. Along with the North Atlantic right whale, they appear to be the most vulnerable of large whale species to becoming accidentally entangled in fishing gear and other ocean debris which is often fatal. They are also vulnerable to boat strikes. 

 

 

Hunting humpback whales has been banned since 1966, and they additionally received protections in 1985 when the International Whaling Commission instituted a moratorium on commercial whaling.  

Oceana campaigns to protect these whales and other vulnerable marine life from entanglement by promoting responsible fishing.  

 

 

 

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