HUMPBACK WHALES

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whales were first classified as endangered back in 1970 under the Endangered Species Conservation Act. Today, there are still four (out of 14) distinct populations of humpback whales that are listed as endangered. Humpbacks are long migraters and can be found all over the world (North America, Mexico, Central America, Australia, Brazil, etc.), traveling up to 5,000 miles in one season. Despite large population growth in the last several years, major threats still remain. Whaling, large vessels, tourism, climate change, fishing nets, and noise pollution are some of the leading causes of fatality amongst these beautiful animals.

Sources:

  1. Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (n.d.). FWS.gov. Retrieved September 25, 2022, from https://www.fws.gov/species/humpback-whale-megaptera-novaeangliae

  2. Cooke, J. (2018, March 24). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Humpback Whale. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/13006/50362794

  3. NOAA Fisheries. (2016). Humpback Whale | NOAA Fisheries. Noaa.gov. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/humpback-whale