Humpback whales have rebounded dramatically since commercial whaling bans, demonstrating what is possible when human exploitation is curtailed. Ongoing threats still require attention.
Entangled humpbacks towing gear can swim and surface but face progressive exhaustion, tissue damage from line cuts, and eventual drowning. Disentanglement operations are high-risk for both whale and rescuer, requiring specialized training. Vessel strike mortality is increasing as shipping routes overlap more with whale habitat. Ship noise interferes with humpback communication and foraging behavior. The recovery of humpback populations is a genuine welfare and conservation success that demonstrates the effectiveness of international protection, providing a model for other endangered cetacean species.