Humpback Whales Have Made An Incredible Comeback From The Edge

It’s upsetting to think about how many animals aren’t around anymore because they’ve gone extinct. In the last 100 years, hundreds of species have disappeared, and not always from natural causes. Human intervention has played an unfortunate role in the loss of some creatures, and for a time, it seemed like we might also bring the end to humpback whales.

Thankfully, the majestic creatures have made an incredible comeback from the edge. In fact, these whales might be thriving more now than they ever have before. If we can do this for one species, then perhaps there is hope for all the other animals in need of our assistance?

Why were humpback whales at risk of extinction?

Commercial whaling used to be a significant issue. As people took to the waters to hunt the animals, they gradually decreased the population. The rate at which humpback whales were being taken out was faster than the creatures could reproduce, which is why they became endangered in the ’70s. If the activity continued at the same pace, it wouldn’t be long before the whales were gone forever.

What stopped them from going extinct?

By the mid-1980s, most whale populations had decreased by 95%. Such a significant drop made it clear that things needed to change immediately; otherwise, there’d be no more whales to hunt. That’s why the International Whaling Commission put a moratorium in place to ban commercial harvesting. With people no longer allowed to go out onto the water to hunt these creatures, their numbers steadily increased. Repopulating was going to take a long time, which is why it’s only now that the animals are properly making their incredible comeback. It’s taken the best part of four decades, but now nearly all species of baleen whale are no longer endangered.

What are baleen whales?

Baleen whales are types of whales with baleen plates. Instead of teeth, these creatures have long hairs on their upper jaw. Despite their size, they don’t eat large animals, preferring instead to snack on plankton, anchovies, and krill. The baleen plates help these animals filter their food when they fill their mouths with large gulps of water.

Will the humpback whales’ incredible comeback last?

For their sake, we’re hopeful that the humpback whales’ incredible comeback is something that will last. However, if they’ve been endangered before, there’s every chance it can happen again. It certainly doesn’t help that some countries like Japan, Iceland, and Norway have continued to hunt whales, taking out thousands of the creatures over the years. Although their efforts haven’t stopped humpback whales from escaping endangerment, they’re not making things any easier for the animals. The reason why these countries haven’t been stopped, despite the ban, is because of the intention behind their actions. The moratorium meant that people couldn’t hunt whales for profit, but these regions do it to use the meat and other products that these creatures provide.

If we want animals like humpback whales to still be around in 50 years’ time, we have to do what we can to protect them. Thankfully, the whaling ban has been hugely influential in helping these creatures to have an incredible comeback. However, just because they’re no longer endangered, that doesn’t mean we can give up the fight yet.