Humpback whales have made a remarkable recovery from commercial whaling but face ongoing welfare threats from entanglement and vessel strikes.
Entangled humpbacks carry ropes and gear that restrict movement, cause lacerations, and can lead to death from exhaustion or infection over weeks or months. Vessel strikes cause catastrophic blunt force trauma; large whales hit by ships may survive for days with severe internal injuries. Noise pollution from shipping masks communication and disrupts feeding. The recovery of humpbacks requires ongoing welfare vigilance.