Whale Populations Rebound to Levels Not Seen in Decades

Antarctica is seeing a dramatic return of whale populations, with large groups reappearing in numbers not recorded since before industrial whaling.

“It’s breathtaking to see blows stretch from horizon to horizon,” said Matt Savoca, researcher at Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station.

More than 2 million whales were killed in the 20th century, but since the global ban on commercial whaling in 1986, humpback whales have rebounded to near pre-whaling levels. Surveys near the South Orkney Islands now regularly record groups of over 100 whales, with some days seeing multiple such gatherings, and past observations capturing up to 1,000 whales at once, the largest aggregation ever recorded. Scientists say this recovery signals improving ocean health, as whales help recycle nutrients that sustain marine ecosystems, supporting species from krill to seabirds and fish.