Author(s): Vanessa Pirotta

Animals/Pets

I entered the water quietly and saw two humpback whales sleeping diagonally in the distance. Two school buses just hanging in space ...

Acclaimed wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta has been mugged by whales, touched by a baby whale and covered in whale snot. In Humpback Highway, Pirotta’s enthusiasm and deep knowledge of whales shine through as she explores a variety of timely topics – from why whale snot and poo are important for us and the ocean, to the life cycle of whales and the challenges humans present to these marine giants. Plus the cutting-edge new technologies (including tagging whales via satellite) that allow us to see where they swim, listen to them talk and even spy on them underwater.

Whether you’re a whale lover or you’re simply curious about the underwater world, Humpback Highway will inspire and give you a new respect for these majestic, marine giants.

‘From snot to sex, courtship to conservation, Pirotta brings the lives and habits of these incredible mammals to life.’ — Melissa Doyle

‘Enthralling – Pirotta’s passion and knowledge leaps off every page.’ — Richard Glover

‘Dr Pirotta has inspired me with her passion to unlock the secrets of the largest animals on the planet.’ — Terri Irwin

‘All whales are precious inhabitants of this planet we call home, yet we humans have treated them harshly with indiscriminate destruction. Humpback Highway takes the reader into the world of a gentle giant whose place on this planet is no less important than our own. I highly recommend it.’ — Valerie Taylor