Brazil’s humpback whales make stunning comeback; population surges from just 2,000 to nearly 35,000

A humpback whale breaches off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP photo) Humpback whales are returning in large numbers to Brazil’s coast after being pushed close to extinction by commercial whaling. Their population in the South Atlantic has risen from about 2,000 to around 35,000 in roughly 40 years, bringing the species close to its population levels before large-scale whaling.According to Science X, the recovery is now clearly visible along Brazil’s coast, including around Rio de Janeiro’s Guanabara Bay where thousands of humpback whales pass through Brazilian waters every year during their migration. Their return has also increased interest in whale-watching trips.The warm waters off Brazil are an important breeding ground for Southern Atlantic humpbacks. Between June and November, the whales travel about 4,000 kilometres from feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean to breeding and calving areas off northeastern Brazil. Many gather around the Abrolhos Bank, a coral reef region along the coasts of Bahia and Espirito Santo.Not long ago, humpback whales were rarely seen in Brazilian waters. According to Enrico Marcovaldi, co-founder of the Humpback Whale Project and founder of...