By Madeleine Muzdakis on March 9, 2022

Photo: GUDKOVANDREY/Depositphotos

Humpback whale populations have improved so much they were taken off the endangered species list in Australia. That’s great news!

Humpback whales live in all the world’s major oceans. They migrate great distances, scooping up plankton and krill with mouths full of baleen. Known for their grace, the magnificent creatures were also coveted by whalers. From the 19th century through the mid-20th century, their numbers were decimated by commercial whaling. At one point there were as few as 700 of the creatures swimming in the North Atlantic. Bans on whaling in the 1980s and a general push for conservation have allowed humpback populations to recover in recent decades. And at last, the humpback whale has been taken off the endangered species list in Australia—a milestone for the species.

The humpback whale, or Megaptera novaeangliae, is a truly magnificent creature. Weighing in at about 40 tons, the adults enjoy propelling themselves out of the water in dramatic breaches. Underwater, they sing to each other—especially during the mating season. These gentle giants even travel over 3,500 miles to find their partners.[…]

Continue reading: Humpback Whale Has Swam Its Way Back From Endangered Status