From slaughter to sanctuary, The Whales' Journey 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 sixty years of the twentieth century.Humpback whales are now protected by a fabric of regulations, sanctuaries, treaties and ultimately by human concern for them and their environment. This passionate, carefully researched and richly 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.
The Whales' Journey 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 possibilities. 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 avoid the destruction of a whole species.

Prologue1 People and whales2 The life of humpback whales3 Preparing for the journey4 The northerly migration5 North to warmer seas6 The birthing and breeding grounds7 The southerly migrationFull circleNotesFurther readingIndex