Lab Notes: How humpback whales bounced back

This has been a bumper year for whale-watching on Australia's east coast, with thousands of humpbacks spotted cruising along their annual migration route.  

This population was almost wiped out by whalers last century but has bounced back — and then some. A new estimate suggests there are now more of these humpbacks than in pre-whaling times. 

So why are the eastern Australian humpbacks going gangbusters while other populations aren't doing nearly as well? 

You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.

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Featuring:

• Wally Franklin, marine scientist at Southern Cross University and the Oceania Project 

More information:

Eastern Australian humpback whale population now well above pre-whaling levels, report finds

Boom to bust? Implications for the continued rapid growth of the eastern Australian humpback whale population despite recovery

The Oceania Project

If you want to hear about how other Australian whales are going, check out The plight of the southern right whales. 

This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.