Humpback whales have made a remarkable recovery from commercial whaling, but continue to face welfare threats from entanglement, vessel strikes, noise pollution, and climate impacts on prey.
Humpback whale welfare after population recovery illustrates how successful conservation creates new welfare challenges at larger population sizes. More whales means more entanglement events, more vessel strike mortalities, and more exposure to anthropogenic noise. Entanglement in fishing gear causes prolonged suffering as whales struggle against restraint for days or weeks before rescue or death. Vessel strikes cause traumatic injury and death. Climate-driven prey distribution changes require energetically costly range adjustments. Whale disentanglement networks provide emergency welfare intervention; fishing gear modification and vessel speed restrictions address systemic risk.