Humpback Whale

The Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a remarkable marine mammal known for its worldwide presence across tropical and temperate oceans. These whales are particularly notable for their impressive size, reaching a maximum length of 18.9 meters (62 feet) and weighing up to 35 metric tonnes (approximately 77,000 pounds).

Humpback whales are oceanodromous, meaning they migrate long distances across the oceans. They typically move between tropical breeding grounds and polar or sub-polar feeding areas, traveling through open seas and reaching the ice edges in both hemispheres. During these migrations, they inhabit waters as shallow as 1 meter (3 feet) and as deep as 616 meters (2,021 feet).

Their diet mainly consists of krill and small schooling fish, and they often feed and breed in coastal waters which can be close to human settlements. This contributes to their status as one of the most recognizable large whale species. The Babuyan Islands in the 🇵🇭 Philippines have been confirmed as one of their breeding grounds. During the breeding season, various social structures are observed, such as lone adults, mother-calf pairs, and surface-active mating groups which sometimes include up to four individuals. Males are often seen escorting cows with young calves, displaying aggressive competitive behavior, and singing. Their distinctive songs consist of nine themes, seven of which are common in both the 🇵🇭 Philippines and Hawaii.

Despite their majesty, humpback whales face numerous threats. These include fishing practices like dynamite and cyanide fishing, pollution, and infringement by foreign commercial fishing vessels, particularly from unregulated long-line and drift net activities. There are also unconfirmed reports of pirate whaling. Due to their impressive nature and sociable behavior, these whales also play a significant role in commercial fisheries.