A humpback whale that had been thrilling boaters off Newport Beach, Ca., for several days breached for a prolonged period Sunday, revealing that the mammal is hardly free and thriving.

The humpback whales off California were out in full force, breaching the surface of the water, slapping their giant flippers and lobbing their tails. “The humpbacks were in top form!” ...

Humpback whales may be communicating with humans in a playful way, according to researchers who have been studying the marine ...