Humpback whale in the Antarctic by Kai Müller

Despite its rather stocky build, the humpback whale is considered the most acrobatic of the large whale species. It is known for spectacular leaps and it often slaps the surface of the sea with its pectoral and tail fins. Humpback whales are also known for their long and complex songs. Males usually sing during the breeding season in winter to attract females. Humpback whales grow to an average size of up to 13 metres and reach a body weight of about 30 tonnes. The upper side of the humpback whale is black, blue-black or dark grey in colour. The furrows, flanks and undersides of the tail and pectoral fins can be black or white or patterned. The most important features of the humpback whale are its long flippers and the individual-specific tail fluke. The flippers reach 1/3 of the body length. The large tail fluke of the humpback whale is clearly notched and has a pigmentation on the underside that is unique to each whale. Experts are able to distinguish and recognise thousands of humpback whales worldwide because of this individual colouring. They are the fingerprint of the humpback whales. The humpback whale is found worldwide in all polar to tropical seas. Since it is a relatively slow swimmer at seven kilometres per hour and sometimes approaches ships with curiosity, it has always been a coveted prey for humans. The most intensive fishing period for humpback whales began in the early 20th century with the establishment of whaling stations on islands around Antarctica. After the rapid decline of the humpback whale population, the International Whaling Commission IWC issued a hunting ban on humpback whales in 1963. In the meantime, humpback whale stocks have recovered somewhat. Nevertheless, they are endangered by ship collisions, bycatch in fishing nets, marine pollution, climate change and industrial noise pollution of the seas.