Monday, 22 June 2026 New research on endangered humpback whales in the Arabian Sea
A new international study, which included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tilen Genov from the Department of Biodiversity UP FAMNIT, offers important new insights into the humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) of the Arabian Sea. This group is one of the most endangered and least studied large whale populations in the world. The study appeared in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.
Arabian Sea humpback whales are unique because, unlike other humpback whale populations, they do not undertake long seasonal migrations between feeding and breeding grounds. They remain year-round in the waters of the northwestern Indian Ocean. “Arabian Sea humpback whales are a biological anomaly,” said Dr. Andrew Willson from Future Seas, the lead author of the study. Due to their small numbers and long-term isolation, this population is classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with its size estimated at approximately 82 individuals. “Many humpback whale populations have recovered significantly since the end of whaling, but this population is on the brink of extinction,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tilen Genov from UP FAMNIT, co-author of the study.
To better understand their movements and habitat use, researchers tracked 14 humpback whales along the coast of Oman using satellite tags between 2014 and 2017. The results showed that they spend most of their time over the continental shelf, with the Gulf of Masirah in Oman identified as the most important area. This is where researchers recorded the highest number of behavioural patterns indicating intensive habitat use.
One of the most interesting findings was a female whale that crossed the Arabian Sea and reached waters off southern India. In 103 days, she travelled at least 7,330 kilometres between the Gulf of Masirah and the Gulf of Mannar, before returning to Oman. This is the first direct evidence of such a crossing of the Arabian Sea by this humpback whale population.
The study also showed that key habitat areas for humpback whales overlap with regions of intense fishing and shipping activity. This increases the risk of entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes, and other human impacts. The authors therefore emphasize that the new findings will be important for designing more effective conservation measures to protect this small and endangered population.
The research represents an important contribution to understanding the ecology of Arabian Sea humpback whales and highlights the need for international cooperation in their conservation, as their range extends across the borders of multiple countries.
