150 Southern Fin Whales Observed Feeding Together
Published:13 Jul.2022 Source:Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
After blue whales, fin whales are the largest whales in the world -- and human beings have hunted both species to near-extinction. After the ban on commercial whaling in 1976, the stocks of these long-lived, but slow-growing creatures are rebounding: in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers and filmmakers jointly present videos and photos of large groups of up to 150 southern fin whales in their historical feeding areas -- more than has ever been documented before using modern methods.
Given these whales' key role in nutrient recycling, other species in the Antarctic ecosystem, like the krill, could also benefit from their rebounding numbers.