History of Humpback whale in Timeline
The humpback whale, a baleen whale of the rorqual family and the sole member of the genus Megaptera, measures 14-17 meters in length and can weigh up to 40 tons. Recognized by its unique body form with extended pectoral fins and head tubercles, it exhibits behaviors like breaching, attracting whale watchers. Male humpbacks are known for their intricate songs, lasting between 4 and 33 minutes.
1932: Remington Kellogg Reverts Humpback Whale's Scientific Name
In 1932, Remington Kellogg reversed the humpback whale's scientific name back to Balaena novaeangliae, originally proposed by Borowski.
1946: International Whaling Commission Established
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) was founded in 1946 to regulate the whaling industry and prevent the overexploitation of whale populations.
1947: Soviet Union Begins Underreporting Humpback Whale Catches
The Soviet Union started underreporting its humpback whale catches in 1947, concealing the true extent of their whaling activities.
1966: Commercial Humpback Whaling Banned
Facing the brink of extinction, humpback whales received a much-needed reprieve in 1966 when the IWC banned commercial hunting of the species.
1972: Soviet Union's Underreporting of Humpback Whale Catches Continues
The Soviet Union continued to underreport its humpback whale catches until 1972, masking the true impact of their whaling practices on the species.
1975: Humpback Whale Watching Tours Begin
Humpback whale watching tours commenced in New England and Hawaii in 1975, capitalizing on the species' captivating surface behaviors and adaptability to boats.
1985: Humphrey the Humpback Whale Ventures into San Francisco Bay
In 1985, a humpback whale named Humphrey swam into San Francisco Bay and up the Sacramento River, marking the beginning of his notable encounters with humans.
1991: Migaloo the Albino Humpback Whale First Sighted
An albino humpback whale, named Migaloo, was first sighted in 1991 off the east coast of Australia, captivating the public and researchers with its unique all-white appearance.
2004: Humpback Whale Hunting Restricted to Bequia
In 2004, humpback whale hunting was restricted to a limited number of whales per year off the island of Bequia in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with the understanding that this take would not endanger the local population.
2007: Japan Announces Plan to Kill Humpback Whales for Research
Japan's announcement in 2007 of its plan to kill 50 humpback whales for its JARPA II research program sparked international protests and condemnation.
2010: Greenland Granted Permission for Subsistence Humpback Whaling
The IWC granted Greenland's native population permission to hunt a small number of humpback whales for subsistence purposes for a three-year period starting in 2010.
2013: Baseline Stranding Numbers Highlight Recent Spike
Comparing the number of stranded humpback whales from 2013 to 2016 to the period between January 2016 and February 2019 revealed a significant increase, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
2014: Genetic Study Suggests Humpback Whale Subspecies
A 2014 genetic study proposed that humpback whales in the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Southern Oceans have limited gene flow and should be recognized as distinct subspecies.
2014: Study Observes Orcas Hunting Juvenile Humpbacks
A 2014 study in Western Australia found that orcas prey on juvenile humpbacks, particularly when they are abundant. The study also noted that humpback mothers and adults protect calves from orca attacks.
January 2016: Rise in Humpback Whale Strandings Raises Concerns
Starting in January 2016, there was a concerning increase in stranded humpback whales along the Atlantic Coast, many showing signs of vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglement.
April 2017: NOAA Declares Unusual Mortality Event for Humpback Whales
Due to the significant increase in stranded humpback whales, NOAA declared an unusual mortality event in April 2017, indicating a serious threat to the population.
2018: Genomic Analysis of Rorquals
A 2018 genomic analysis revealed that rorquals, including humpback whales, diverged from other baleen whales between 10.5 and 7.5 million years ago. This study also identified the humpback and fin whales as sister taxa.
2018: IUCN Red List Lists Humpback Whale as Least Concern
The IUCN Red List classified the humpback whale as least concern in 2018, indicating the species' recovery from historic whaling.
February 2019: NOAA Records Alarming Number of Humpback Whale Strandings
By February 2019, the NOAA had recorded 88 stranded humpback whales since January 2016, more than double the number from the previous three years, highlighting the growing impact of human activities on these animals.
2019: Study Finds Oil Does Not Foul Humpback Whale Baleen
In 2019, a study found that oil does not foul humpback whale baleen and is easily rinsed by flowing water, mitigating the risk of oil ingestion for these whales.
June 2020: Migaloo Spotted Along the Coast of Port Macquarie
In June 2020, Migaloo was seen along the coast of Port Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia, marking one of its regular appearances in the region.
2020: Documented Cases of Great White Sharks Killing Humpback Whales
In 2020, marine biologists documented two separate incidents of great white sharks killing humpback whales, suggesting a potential predatory relationship between the two species.
July 2022: White Whale Carcass Raises Concerns About Migaloo's Fate
Concerns arose in July 2022 when a white whale carcass was found on Mallacoota beach, prompting fears that Migaloo had died, but genetic testing later confirmed it was not him.
2023: Study Finds Decrease in Humpback Whale Singing
A study in 2023 revealed a decrease in humpback whale singing, potentially linked to the species' recovery from whaling. This finding raises questions about the purpose of their complex songs.