Humpback whale populations have recovered remarkably from commercial whaling, but welfare threats from ship strikes, entanglement, and noise pollution continue.
Humpback whale welfare has improved dramatically since commercial whaling ended, but entanglement remains a serious ongoing concern. Individual whales can tow heavy gear loads for weeks to months before death or rescue, suffering from physical trauma, drag fatigue, and starvation as the gear prevents effective feeding. Ship strikes cause acute traumatic injuries that may not be immediately fatal, causing prolonged suffering before death. Large whale entanglement response teams conduct welfare interventions disentangling trapped individuals, providing critical welfare support that also serves conservation.