Humpback whales may soon be taken off the endangered species list in response to data showing the animal’s population has been steadily growing in recent decades. Known for their acrobatic leaps from the sea and complex singing patterns, humpback whales were nearly hunted to extinction for their oil and meat by industrial-sized whaling ships well through the middle of the 20th century. But the species has been bouncing back since an international ban on their commercial whaling in 1966. There are now an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 humpbacks in the North Pacific, up from just 1,400 in the mid-1960s. Helping the humpbacks is that they reproduce once every two to three years, as opposed to every three years for other whale species. They also have a diverse diet, including krill and herring, capelin and other fish. Happy New Year! Capt. Gary
Good News Story
Advertisement
