Endangered Arabian humpback whales spotted near Gwadar

GWADAR: A pod of endangered Arabian humpback whales was sighted off the coast of Gwadar in Balochistan on Sunday night.

These whales are among the few species in the world currently facing the threat of extinction.

According to WWF-Pakistan, a group of fishermen led by captain Ameer Dad Kareem — who were out hunting Amreshk (a valuable fish) — spotted more than six Arabian humpback whales migrating from west to east, about 11 nautical miles south of Gwadar’s coast.

Just last week, a pod of Bryde’s whales was also seen in the eastern Gulf of Gwadar, highlighting the rich biodiversity of Balochistan’s coastal waters.

So far, 27 species of dolphins and whales have been recorded in Pakistani waters, underscoring the fertility and ecological richness of the Arabian Sea.

Unique Whales of the Arabian Sea

The Arabian humpback whale is a rare species of baleen whale found between Yemen and Sri Lanka. Unlike other whale species that migrate to the southern oceans, these whales remain in the Arabian Sea throughout the year.

Typically, whales migrate to Antarctic waters during summer to feed on krill and small fish, building thick layers of fat for energy during their stay in warmer breeding waters.

The largest population of Arabian humpback whales is found off Oman’s coast. After the southwest monsoon ends, some migrate into Pakistan’s waters to feed on shrimps and small fish.

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), there have been several recorded sightings of this rare species in Pakistan’s coastal waters — though usually one or two at a time.

This latest sighting is particularly remarkable because more than six whales were observed together, identified by their distinct spouts and diving patterns.

WWF’s Technical Adviser Muhammad Moazzam Khan said that the presence of such a large group near Pakistan’s coast is an encouraging sign, suggesting the species may be on a path to recovery.

He said that between 1963 and 1967, Soviet whaling expeditions in the Arabian Sea had severely depleted the population of Arabian humpback whales, which has since been struggling to recover.