Which whale species migrates to the Great Barrier Reef’s warm waters to breed?

Humpback whales migrate to the Great Barrier Reef’s warm waters to breed and give birth. The reef region forms part of the migration route for humpbacks traveling from Antarctic feeding grounds to tropical breeding areas.

Humpbacks are baleen whales, so they filter food from the water rather than using teeth. They feed mainly in colder, productive waters and generally eat little or nothing during the breeding season. Their long migrations can cover thousands of kilometres, and individuals return to broad regional areas year after year.

The whales are seasonal visitors, not permanent residents of the reef. They may be seen near the outer reef and in adjacent coastal waters. Their recovery in Australian waters followed protection from commercial whaling, although conservation monitoring remains important for understanding population health and human impacts.