Australia is home to the largest population of humpback whales in the world, with an estimated 40,000 individuals migrating along its coast each year.
While some whale species in Australia are considered endangered, others are not. The most threatened whale species in Australian waters is the southern right whale. They were heavily hunted during the whaling era, leading to a significant decline in their population. Today, they face threats such as entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes, and habitat degradation. Another endangered species is the blue whale, which was also heavily targeted by whalers. Despite being protected since the 1960s, their population is slow to recover due to their slow reproductive rate and continued threats from ship strikes and ocean noise pollution. Other whale species, such as humpback whales, have shown signs of recovery since the cessation of commercial whaling, but they still face threats from entanglement, pollution, and habitat degradation.
Learn more facts about our Australian animals and see some beautiful artworks to go with them. Visit the below pages of your favourite Australian animals.
