Two humpback whales were freed of life-threatening entanglements on Jan. 8 and 9 off the coast of Maui in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. These most recent responses bring the total number of humpback whale entanglement cases since mid-December to eight. Scientists confirmed that the recovered gear from both events was from the humpback whales’ feeding grounds in Alaska. Full story at mauinow.com #whale #entangled VC: E. Lyman/NOAA MMHSRP (permit # 24359) D. McLeis

Snorkler encounters a playful pygmy right whale in shallow waters of Australia —a truly rare experience! 🎥: Reel Salty Aus The pygmy right whale, the tiniest among baleen whales, measures 20-21 ft (6 to 6.5 m) in length and weighs 6,610 - 7,720 lb (3,000 to 3,500 kg). Despite its name, the pygmy right whale may have more in common with the gray whale and rorquals than the bowhead and right whales. Learn about the mysterious sounds of pygmy right whales—captured by Dawbin and Cato in 1992—in thi