Pod of Bryde's whales spotted off Gwadar coast

Fishermen capture video of endangered species in Pakistani waters after nearly a year

KARACHI:

A rare sighting of Bryde's whales has been reported off the coast of Gwadar, marking the first confirmed appearance of this endangered species in Pakistani waters since November 2023, when the whales were last recorded near Jiwani, Balochistan.

According to WWF-Pakistan Technical Adviser Muhammad Moazzam Khan, the Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) is one of three whale species found in Pakistan's marine territory. The latest sighting was confirmed after local fishermen recorded a short video near Dami Zarr, approximately five kilometres north of Gwadar, on October 23.

The footage, verified by WWF-Pakistan, showed a group of four whales moving calmly across the sea surface, believed to be travelling closer to shore in search of food. Moazzam Khan explained that Bryde's whales typically occur in warm and tropical oceans, including the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific, and usually appear alone or in groups of three to four. Occasionally, larger pods of up to 20 individuals are observed in feeding zones.

These whales primarily feed on schooling fish such as sardines, anchovies, and mackerel - species that are abundant along Pakistan's coastline - as well as shrimps.

The IUCN Red List categorises Bryde's whales as an endangered species facing a global threat of extinction. In Pakistan, they are legally protected under provincial wildlife laws and federal fisheries and international trade regulations.

Moazzam Khan added that the observation highlights the ecological richness of Pakistan's coastal waters and the success of local conservation initiatives. WWF-Pakistan, through its citizen science programme, is working with fishermen, marine scientists, and coastal communities to collect data on whales, dolphins, and other marine life.

Senior Director of WWF-Pakistan Rab Nawaz praised the cooperation of local fishermen who promptly shared the video and have adopted safer fishing practices to prevent accidental deaths of dolphins and whales. "Such collaboration between scientists and coastal communities is critical to conserving Pakistan's fragile marine ecosystems," he said.

These ongoing monitoring efforts, supported by community participation, are helping build a valuable database for marine conservation and raising awareness about the need to protect endangered marine mammals along Pakistan's coast.