Brazil's humpback whales rebound dramatically, population climbs to nearly 35,000
South Atlantic humpback whales off Brazil have surged from about 2,000 to nearly 35,000 in roughly four decades, signaling a robust recovery after commercial whaling ended.
After decades of commercial hunting, South Atlantic humpback whales have rebounded dramatically, with estimates climbing from roughly 2,000 to about 35,000 in about 40 years, nearly matching historic numbers. The turnaround began with the International Whaling Commission’s 1982 moratorium and Brazil’s 1987 prohibition, coupled with safeguards for key breeding habitats like the Abrolhos reef system. Each year between June and November, the whales travel some 4,000 km from Antarctic feeding grounds to Brazil’s tropical coasts, where they congregate near Rio de Janeiro’s Guanabara Bay and the Abrolhos Bank.
Their resurgence has spurred a boom in whale-watching tours, such as those offered by the Rio Ocean Club, and provided researchers like Fabio Fontes with more opportunities to collect samples and study behavior. An AI platform called Happy Whale now matches tail-fluke photographs in seconds, having catalogued over 8,300 Brazilian humpbacks and even linking individuals across oceans. Despite the progress, scientists warn that ship strikes, fishing nets and warming seas continue to threaten the species.
Why it matters
The comeback shows how protection measures can revive marine species, but ongoing threats highlight the need for continued conservation.
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