A large group of endangered Arabian humpback whales was spotted off the coast of Gwadar, Balochistan, late last night, in what experts are calling one of the most significant marine sightings in recent years.
According to details, a team of local fishermen led by Captain Ameer Dad Karim reported seeing more than six humpback whales approximately 11 nautical miles south of Gwadar. The whales were observed migrating from west to east through the Arabian Sea, drawing attention from marine conservationists.
The sighting follows a similar report last week of Bryde’s whales in Gwadar’s eastern bay, highlighting the ecological richness of Pakistan’s coastal waters. To date, 27 species of whales and dolphins have been documented in Pakistani marine zones, known for their productive ecosystems and nutrient-dense waters.
The Arabian humpback whale, a baleen whale species, inhabits the Arabian Sea between Yemen and Sri Lanka. Unlike most humpback whales, which migrate to the southern oceans to feed in Antarctic waters during summer, the Arabian humpback population remains confined to the Arabian Sea year-round—making it the only non-migratory humpback species in the world.
Experts note that these whales usually reside in Omani waters but migrate seasonally toward Pakistan’s coastline after the southwest monsoon, following the abundance of shrimp and small fish. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Pakistan has documented multiple sightings of Arabian humpbacks in the region over the years, underscoring the area’s ecological importance.
While earlier observations typically involved solitary whales or pairs, the latest sighting of a larger pod may indicate a positive population trend.
Scientists believe the species is slowly recovering from the devastating impact of Soviet whaling operations between 1963 and 1967, when large numbers of Arabian humpbacks were hunted across the northern Arabian Sea, including waters near Pakistan.
