Humpback whales have become an iconic species for many Australians. With Japan's expanded so-called 'scientific' whaling program these are
the very whales that will face the harpoons during their hunt commencing in November 2008.

The Humpback Icon Project (HIP) aims to bring Australian communities together and raise awareness of this threat facing our whales and generate action to protect them.                                                                                                             Nala © Trish Franklin 

The HIP helps coastal councils and their communities along the eastern and western seaboard of Australia to celebrate the annual humpback whale migration by 'adopting' a known named or unnamed whale as their local whale icon.

This project is establishing a symbolic chain of coastal councils, each with an adopted whale as their icon, which follows the humpback whale migration route.

The list of adopted whales is growing rapidly sending a powerful message to those that want to kill the whales.  There is no doubt that in Australia there is strong and widespread support for action to protect the whales from this inhumane, unnecessary and unlawful activity.

Click on the links below to download more information about HIP and how to get involved. 
HIP Brief
HIP Fact Sheet
HIP News

All Fluke photos unless otherwise credited are from Trish Franklin's Catalogue of Eastern Australian Humpbacks.