Whale tale: humpbacks migrate off eastern Australia – in pictures
The acrobatic creatures dive and breach off Sydney on their travels north as their population makes a comeback
-
The east coast whale migration has started as the humpbacks journey north from the Antarctic to the warmer waters of the Great Barrier Reef to breed or give birth.
Photograph: Jodie Lowe
-
Humpbacks have been seen in Sydney and reported off the coast from Merimbula in southern NSW to Hervey Bay in Queensland.
Photograph: Rachelle Mackinttosh
-
This spectacular breach was seen by people on a whale-watching tour out of Sydney harbour.
Photograph: Ocean Extreme
-
The humpback whale population has now returned to a healthy level, about 60 years after commercial whaling was banned in the region.
Photograph: Rachelle Mackinttosh
-
-
Humpbacks were removed from the threatened species list in February after a significant increase in numbers to about 40,000 whales.
Photograph: Ocean Extreme
-
Their behaviours vary from showing their tail when they go down for a sounding dive to breaching – jumping out of the water.
Photograph: Jodie Lowe
-
All whales have the ability to breach but it is far more common in humpback whales, which are a social species.
Photograph: Jodie Lowe
-
Barnacles have a symbiotic relationship with humpbacks and attach themselves to various parts of the whale, including the tail flukes.
Photograph: Jodie Lowe
-
-
Scientists are divided on why the humpbacks breach but it is commonly believed to be a form of communication.
Photograph: Jodie Lowe
