After commercial whaling nearly erased them, blue and fin whales are slowly reclaiming the southeast Atlantic
More than 40 years after the end of commercial whaling, new research reveals a recent increase in sightings of the world's two largest whale species in the southeastern Atlantic.
More than 40 years after the end of commercial whaling, new research reveals a recent increase in sightings of the world's two largest whale species in the southeastern Atlantic.
The short version
- The findings, published in the African Journal of Marine Science, compiled more than 60 years of confirmed sightings and strandings from Namibia and South Africa's west coast.
- Although overall numbers remain low, sightings of both species have increased markedly in recent years—with 95% of observations recorded since 2012.
- This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies .
What happened
Bridget James, from the Center for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Between 1913 and 1978, an estimated 350,000 blue whales and 725,000 fin whales were killed, causing dramatic global population declines.
Why it matters
Today, Antarctic blue whales are still listed as "Critically Endangered" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Phys.org via the links above and below.