Humpback Whales are huge mammals – they can get over 50 feet in length and weigh over 80,000 pounds! Even when they’re born, they’ll weigh around 2,000 pounds and be 15 feet in length!1
They are baleen whales and can be found in the major oceans of the world.2&3They eat 3,000 pounds of krill, plankton, and fish every day.2 They are migratory and will migrate thousands of miles every year!2
There are fourteen distinct populations of Humpback Whales – four of which are labeled as endangered, and one as threatened. These five groups have Endangered Species Act protection, and all Humpback Whales have Marine Mammal Protection Act protection. Many of the threats to their lives come from fishing gear, boats, and noise pollution.3
They first received protection in the 70s. They were victims of commercial whaling for a long time and lost over 90% of their population. Once there was a moratorium put in place, they began to recover.3
Humpback Whales are black and have white markings on their fins, bellies, and tails.3 Their markings can be used to identify individuals.3 They’re very popular when it comes to whale watching because they’re very active. They are often spotted at the surface, and they’ll jump out of the water, dive under the water, or slap the surface with their fins.2
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