Disturbing photographs depicting both adult and juvenile humpback whales along the eastern coastline of Australia reveal severe injuries inflicted by boat collisions and propeller strikes. This troubling trend, highlighted by experts, is believed to be on the rise as the whale population flourishes six decades after whaling was banned.
Images collected by WWF Australia and shared with the Guardian show harrowing injuries, including missing tail sections and deep lacerations, as well as alarming wounds on a whale calf’s spine. One particularly striking image, taken last month in Hervey Bay, Queensland, captures fresh, extensive cuts on a calf’s back, an area where many mother whales seek refuge while migrating to Antarctica.
Isabel Taylor, a senior naturalist with the Pacific Whale Foundation, notes the mixed emotions experienced by those on whale-watching tours. While many visitors revel in the sight of these magnificent creatures, Taylor observed a more somber scene when she encountered a mother whale and her calf, the latter bearing visible injuries from a propeller strike. “The atmosphere shifted,” she recalls, as the guests, who often regard the experience as a highlight of their lives, were confronted with the stark reality of the calf’s condition.
Another distressing photograph, captured in June by a drone near Bondi Beach in Sydney, shows a humpback whale with lacerations and exposed flesh, likely the result of multiple propeller impacts. A separate image from 2024 features a female humpback known as “Bladerunner,” distinguished by a series of deep cuts on her back and tail, believed to be the result of a propeller strike occurring over 20 years ago.
Dr. Raphael Mayaud, a marine ecologist at Griffith University, emphasizes the physical toll humans take on these massive animals. He is part of a group advising the International Whaling Commission (IWC) on the issue of vessel strikes. Rebecca Dunlop, an associate professor and humpback whale expert at the University of Queensland, points out that the injuries predominantly affect the backs and rear ends of whales, indicating that they are surfacing just as boats pass overhead, leaving them vulnerable to collisions.
Dunlop further explains that migrating humpbacks often follow predictable surfacing patterns, which may not permit them enough time to avoid approaching vessels. This issue has persisted since the IWC prohibited humpback whaling in the southern hemisphere in 1963, following a dramatic decline in their population. Despite continued hunting by Soviet whalers until the early 1970s, the ban enabled a significant recovery. In 2004, estimates suggested that the east coast humpback population had risen to 7,800, and by 2015, it had surged to over 25,500. Current estimates indicate that between 40,000 and 50,000 whales make their annual migration along the coast, with predictions that numbers may stabilize this year.
Experts like Dunlop and Mayaud note that as whale populations have rebounded, there has been a concurrent rise in boating activity, leading to an increase in vessel strikes. In Australia, approximately one in ten residents holds a boat license, contributing to over 970,000 registered boats, with more than half a million located in Queensland and New South Wales. However, the total number of collisions remains difficult to ascertain, as many incidents go unreported, according to the IWC.
During a recent meeting, the IWC adopted a resolution aimed at collaborating globally to mitigate vessel strikes, which have been identified as a priority concern. Chris Johnson, WWF’s global lead on whale protection initiatives, remarked on the importance of this step, acknowledging humpbacks as a notable conservation success story, yet warning of the increasing dangers they face from maritime traffic.
Johnson also pointed out that the injuries depicted in the images must have been excruciating for the affected whales, stressing the lack of comprehensive data on the issue. Experts advocate for the implementation of stricter speed limits for vessels navigating migration routes and increased awareness for boaters regarding high-risk areas and times. In California, for instance, shipping companies strive to achieve high ratings on public scorecards that evaluate their adherence to speed regulations during periods of heightened whale activity. Additionally, trial programs utilizing AI-assisted whale detection cameras in San Francisco Bay aim to enhance notifications for vessel operators about nearby whales.
While Australian regulations mandate reporting collisions with protected species such as humpbacks, Mayaud notes that many incidents go unnoticed or undocumented. He emphasizes that even non-fatal strikes can have severe repercussions for whales, such as impaired swimming efficiency and increased energy expenditure, which may adversely affect their migration, feeding, and reproductive success. The immediate trauma from such injuries—including pain, blood loss, and risk of infection—can have lasting effects on the animals’ well-being.
