Humpbacks and the world they live in

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is one of the largest whales found in our planet, up to 45 feet in length (13.716 in meters) and weighs about a ton per foot (or 2,976 kg per m). Based on its current population, the IUCN considers them under the global Threatened Red List status as “of least concern”. Note however, that for some populations, e.g., in the Philippines, they are considered as “Vulnerable”, and in the Arabian Sea as “Endangered”. The species is relatively well studied, though only a few studies have focused on its mid-ocean migratory behaviour. The documentary from Bermuda “Where the Whales Sing” by Andrew Stevenson is the first that documents this migration in detail, and which discusses the humpback’s habitat, ecology, behavior, threats, and most importantly, advocates for its protection.

Written by:

Patricia Yap

Research Assistant

The SeaLifeBase Project