Humpback Whale

Humpback Whales, known for their spectacular breaching and melodic songs, are majestic marine mammals found in all the world's oceans. Growing up to 50 feet long and weighing as much as 40 tons, they are curious and playful gentle giants. Their elaborate courtship displays and unique feeding method, called “bubble netting,” are fascinating behaviors. Humpbacks were decimated by whaling in the 19th and 20th centuries and were among the first species protected under the Endangered Species Conservation Act, the predecessor of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Thanks to these protections and global efforts, their population has rebounded to nearly 80,000 from a low of 10,000-15,000. They are still hunted in Greenland for subsistence, and countries like Norway, Iceland, and Japan continue whaling. Humpbacks migrate up to 11,706 miles between breeding and feeding grounds and can live over 100 years.