Whales on Australia’s ‘humpback highway’ are at growing risk of injury from boat and propellor strikes
Exclusive: Images show deep cuts and damage to tails and fins, as experts warn the migrating species often aren’t able to avoid a collision Gruesome images of adult and juvenile humpback whales along Australia’s east coast with slash and gouge injuries from boat and propeller strikes highlight what experts say is a growing problem, as the population booms 60 years after the ban on whaling.…
Graze and gouge injuries to the tails and fins of migrating humpback whales have been captured on camera along Australia's east coast, revealing a growing threat from boat and propeller strikes. These images, shared by WWF Australia, show deep red lacerations and damaged spinal tissue on adult and juvenile whales. The WWF's Isabel Taylor, a naturalist, described the emotional impact of seeing a calf with visible propeller slash marks during a whale-watching tour in Hervey Bay.
Humpback whale populations have been recovering since the ban on whaling in the Southern Hemisphere in 1963, but the increase in boating and water recreation along migration routes has coincided with a rise in vessel strikes. Dr. Raphael Mayaud, a marine ecologist, stated that most collisions go unseen and unreported globally, but the images clearly demonstrate the physical harm caused to these massive animals.
Dr. Rebecca Dunlop, a humpback expert at the University of Queensland, believes that the whales' inability to change their diving and surfacing behavior to avoid collisions, particularly at high speeds, contributes to the problem. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has recently passed a resolution to address "vessel strikes" as a priority concern.
Experts recommend implementing speed limits for vessels, increasing awareness on boats and ships, and utilizing technology like AI-assisted whale spotting cameras to help prevent these incidents.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian Australia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
