Humpback whales have recovered from near-extinction following commercial whaling bans, but continue to face welfare threats from entanglement, vessel strikes, and noise pollution.
Humpback whale recovery represents one of conservation most remarkable success stories, demonstrating what is possible with policy change. Yet individual whales continue to experience serious welfare harms. Entanglement in fishing gear causes wounds that can take months to kill, with whales dragging heavy gear and suffering from line cuts. Vessel strikes cause catastrophic blunt trauma. Noise pollution disrupts communication critical for feeding coordination and reproduction.