Scientists say humpback whale populations have made a remarkable recovery since the global commercial whaling ban, but growing shipping traffic linked to conflicts in the Middle East is creating new risks for the marine mammals.

Rare 'Supergroup' Spotted Off South Africa

South African wildlife photographers Chris and Monique Fallows recently documented an extraordinary gathering of 299 humpback whales off the country's west coast.

The pair described the event as a whale supergroup, with hundreds of whales surfacing across the ocean, creating what Chris Fallows compared to a Manhattan skyline of water spouts.

The whales were counted using photographs of their tail flukes, which serve as unique identifiers for individual animals.

According to the global whale-monitoring platform Happywhale, the sighting is believed to be the largest recorded humpback whale gathering.

Conservation Success After Whaling Ban

Scientists say humpback whale populations in the Southern Hemisphere have rebounded dramatically since commercial whaling was banned in 1986.

Their numbers have grown from fewer than 10,000 during the peak of industrial whaling to more than 100,000 today, according to scientific assessments and the International Whaling Commission.

Researchers believe the return of whale supergroups reflects this population recovery, as humpbacks gather in food-rich areas to feed on krill and small fish.

Other Whale Species Still at Risk

Despite the recovery of humpback whales, conservationists warn that many whale species remain threatened.

The World Wildlife Fund says entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with ships, and climate change continue to endanger whale populations. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies seven of the world's 14 great whale species as endangered or vulnerable, including the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, whose population has fallen to about 380.

Middle East Conflict Increasing Shipping Around Africa

Marine scientists have also identified a growing threat linked to conflicts in the Middle East.

Researchers say shipping around southern Africa has increased sharply since late 2023 as vessels avoid the Red Sea following attacks by Yemen's Houthi movement. The conflict involving Iran and tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz have further redirected commercial shipping around the Cape of Good Hope.

Scientists warn that the increase in maritime traffic raises the likelihood of fatal collisions between ships and whales.

Officials in Cape Town say some whale carcasses found along the coast show deep propeller wounds, highlighting the growing danger posed by heavier vessel traffic.

Researchers are now calling for mandatory speed limits for ships operating near South Africa's coastline to reduce the risk of whale strikes.