Humpback whales have made a remarkable recovery from near-extinction following the commercial whaling moratorium, but face ongoing threats from entanglement, ship strikes and noise pollution.
Humpback whales are highly intelligent with complex social bonds and culturally transmitted songs. Entanglement causes prolonged suffering as whales may drag gear for weeks before death or rescue. Anthropogenic noise pollution disrupts communication and foraging. Vessel strikes cause trauma injuries that may be fatal or result in prolonged suffering.