It looks like the mother humpback whale and her calf, Delta and Dawn, have navigated the final stretches of San Francisco Bay and made their way back to the ocean. Along the way, they suffered injuries, probably from a ship's propeller or keel, but appeared to be recovering.
The drama enthralled thousands of locals and millions worldwide through the media, but has also highlighted the importance of marine protection programs to guard against the demise of endangered species, humpback whales and others.
WhalesNOAA (the U.S. National Oceanic And Atmospheric Association) has been actively engaged in monitoring the status of marine mammals, and providing information needed for appropriate actions.