The Whales' Journey: A Year in the Life of a Humpback Whale, and a Century in the History of Whaling

Description

From slaughter to sanctuary, this text describes the experiences of the humpback whales as they travel between the cold Antarctic and the warm tropical seas off northern Australia in what is one of the longest migrations in the animal world. It is also the story of human impact on humpback whale populations, which were decimated almost to extinction during the first 60 years of the 20th century. Humpback whales are now protected by a fabric of regulations, sanctuaries, treaties and ultimately by human concern for them and their environment. This illustrated book brings to life the story of whaling in Australia along with the associated tale of the long, sometimes fruitful and sometimes vexed relationship between scientists and whalers. Included are personal accounts of the work and trial of whaling. The book is a message of hope and warning. As the fight to protect the earth's environments and species continues, the sparing of the humpback whale is an engaging tale of success and potential. As we constantly search for new resources to exploit, we need look no further than the humpback whale to see how simple it is to nearly destroy a whole species.