How many humpback whales are there?

Since 1970, humpback whales have been classed as "endangered" under the US Endangered Species Act. But earlier this week, 9 of the 14 distinct groups of humpback were taken off the endangered list. Four remain endangered and one remains "threatened". read more

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from 12–16 m (39–52 ft) and weigh about 36,000 kg (79,000 lb). The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. read more

The whales counted include Minke, Blue, Fin, Gray, Bowhead, Humpback, Right, Bryde's and Pilot. When estimating whale populations, scientists looked at sections of the world rather the entire world at once. read more