4 Rare Bryde’s Whales Sighted Off Gwadar Coast

4 Rare Bryde’s Whales Sighted Off Gwadar Coast: WWF-Pakistan

In a rare and encouraging sighting, four Bryde’s whales were spotted off the Gwadar coast, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P). The sighting took place near Demi Zur, a coastal area of Gwadar, and was reported by local fishermen participating in WWF-Pakistan’s citizen science initiative.

The whales were first observed by a fishing crew led by Captain Amir Dad Karim, who noticed unusual movement on the calm sea approximately five kilometers north of their operation area. Upon closer inspection, the fishermen discovered a pod of baleen whales, later identified as Bryde’s whales, likely migrating toward coastal waters to feed on sardines, anchovies, and mackerels—fish species abundant along Pakistan’s shores.

According to WWF-Pakistan, the Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera brydei) is one of only three baleen whale species recorded in Pakistani waters, alongside the blue whale and the Arabian humpback whale. The species typically inhabits warm and temperate oceans and remains listed as “data deficient” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to limited global research.

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WWF-P emphasized that all cetaceans, including Bryde’s whales, are protected under Pakistan’s wildlife, fisheries, and international trade laws. These legal protections aim to safeguard the rich marine diversity along the country’s 1,050-kilometer coastline.

“Such rare sightings remind us of the rich marine life along Pakistan’s coast and the importance of protecting it for generations to come,” the organization stated.

As part of its broader conservation mission, WWF-Pakistan has intensified efforts to document and protect marine mammals through a national databank of cetaceans—including whales, dolphins, and porpoises. The database relies heavily on public participation through the citizen science program, which engages fishermen, researchers, and local communities in reporting sightings along the coast.

“Citizen science allows us to collect vital information about marine species that would otherwise go unrecorded,” said Muhammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Adviser at WWF-Pakistan. “This recent sighting is a promising indicator of a healthy marine food web.”

Recent years have seen a handful of Bryde’s whale sightings in Pakistan’s waters, although not all have been joyful. In November 2023, a dead Bryde’s whale was discovered near Jiwani, close to the Pakistan-Iran border, and another was stranded in the same region earlier that year in May 2023.

Rab Nawaz, Senior Director for Biodiversity at WWF-Pakistan, praised the contribution of coastal communities in advancing marine conservation. “Fishermen in Sindh and Balochistan have played a crucial role by reporting marine mammals and adapting fishing methods to reduce entanglement risks. Their collaboration shows how local knowledge can protect endangered species,” he said.

Established in 1970, WWF-Pakistan remains the nation’s largest environmental organization, employing over 300 staff across 32 offices. Its marine conservation programs continue to focus on biodiversity protection, sustainable fishing, and ensuring the long-term health of Pakistan’s ocean ecosystems.