The Humpback Whale Recovery

Humpback whales are huge, graceful ocean animals known for their beautiful songs. For hundreds of years, people hunted them for their oil and meat. By the 1960s, only a few thousand were left. After countries agreed to stop hunting them, humpback whales began to recover.

From Hunting to Healing

Whaling ships once killed thousands of humpback whales every year. In 1966, the International Whaling Commission banned hunting humpback whales. Countries around the world agreed to follow this rule. With the hunting stopped, the whale population slowly began to grow again.

Whales Today

Today, there are about 80,000 humpback whales in the world's oceans. Many groups have been taken off the endangered list. Whale watching has become a popular way for people to enjoy these amazing animals. Humpback whales still face threats from ship strikes and fishing nets, but their recovery is a great success story.

Fun Facts

• A humpback whale's song can last for hours and be heard more than 20 miles away!
• Humpback whales can grow up to 60 feet long, about the length of a school bus.
• Humpback whales migrate up to 5,000 miles each way between feeding and breeding grounds.

Did You Know?

Humpback whales blow bubbles in a circle to trap fish, a clever trick called bubble-net feeding!