Who"s that in the spotlight? A humpback whale! These gentle giants are a success story of the Endangered Species Conservation Act. They are found in oceans globally and are renowned for their colossal size and distinctive features. Characterised by their long pectoral fins, which can reach up to one-third of their body length, humpbacks are adept swimmers and acrobats. The hump on their back, visible when they arch before a dive, contributes to their names. Known for their songs, these vocalizations are linked to mating and communication. These "gulp feeders" were once on the edge of extinction due to whaling and entanglement in fishing gear, but thanks to conservation efforts, their population is making a comeback, from around 5,000 in 1966 to an estimated 135,000 today.
Humpback whale, Disko Bay, Greenland
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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An island park for everyone
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Check out these ‘sea cows’
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Leap Day
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Gateway to Iberia
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Stretching to the sky
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Taughannock Falls State Park, New York
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Locals know this place simply as ‘the Met’
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A different kind of toucan
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Where is this scenic view?
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Happy Boxing Day!
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‘Night shining’ clouds
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Blood moon
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A cantilevered window to the past
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A sea of humanity
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Polar bear, Churchill, Manitoba
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Clouds dance above Sundance
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Fly me to the moon
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Starry, starry night
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Maldives
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Thanksgiving Day
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Blurring the lines with wearable art
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Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles, Bavaria, Germany
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International Day for Monuments and Sites
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Single file, now!
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Val Gardena, South Tyrol, Dolomites, Italy
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Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
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The only road to P.E.I.
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December solstice
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Out of this world
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The old castle at sunrise