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Whale 'Supergroups' Show Numbers Are Rebounding From Hunting. But Iran War Holds Dangers for Them
Researchers say the rebounding humpback population is drawing hundreds of whales into food-rich waters, raising fears of ship strikes.
- In December, wildlife photographer Chris Fallows and his wife, Monique, encountered a rare humpback whale 'supergroup' of 299 individuals off South Africa, marking the largest sighting ever submitted to the Happywhale citizen science platform.
- Humpback numbers in the Southern Hemisphere surged from less than 10,000 to more than 100,000 since the 1986 global whaling ban; Dr. Els Vermeulen, Chief Scientist at the University of Pretoria's Whale Unit, says supergroups began reappearing around 2012.
- Fallows, who has documented marine animals for 35 years, described the gathering as a 'Manhattan skyline' of whale breath plumes; researchers identify individual whales by photographing their unique flukes to verify sightings.
- Conflict in the Middle East has diverted maritime traffic around Africa, quadrupling fast-moving vessels on the coast since December 2023, which Gregg Oelofse, City of Cape Town coastal manager, warned significantly elevates collision risks.
- To mitigate lethal ship strikes, Vermeulen is lobbying for official vessel speed limits near the coast, emphasizing that feeding whales remain unaware of their environment and require protective measures.
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Associated Press News+14 Reposted by 14 other sources
Whale 'supergroups' show numbers are rebounding from hunting. But Iran war holds dangers for them
A renowned wildlife photographer says he and his wife documented the rare sight of around 300 humpback whales coming together off the coast of South Africa in what's known as a whale “supergroup.”
·New York, United States
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Total News Sources17
Leaning Left6Leaning Right1Center10Last UpdatedBias Distribution59% Center
Bias Distribution
- 59% of the sources are Center
59% Center
L 35%
C 59%
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