Humpback whales off the coast of Brazil are experiencing a significant resurgence after facing near extinction in the 1980s. Today, an estimated 35,000 humpbacks inhabit the South Atlantic, representing nearly half of the global population. The warm waters off Brazil’s coast form the largest breeding ground for Southern Atlantic humpbacks, where males engage in competitive displays to attract females, who give birth and nurse their calves in these protected areas.

This remarkable recovery contrasts sharply with the situation four decades ago when sightings of humpback whales in Brazil were virtually unheard of. Enrico Marcovaldi, founder of the Humpback Whale Institute (Instituto Baleia Jubarte, IBJ), recalls initially mistaking a whale for a rock, highlighting how the species had long been considered a legend in the region. The population's revival began after a global moratorium on commercial whaling was enacted in 1986, and Brazil subsequently banned whaling in 1987. Brazil’s government also established the Abrolhos archipelago, located off the state of Bahia, as a protected breeding area for the whales. By 2014, these efforts led to the removal of the humpback whale from Brazil’s list of threatened species, with the population continuing its upward trend.

Scientists have utilized the breeding grounds around Abrolhos as a research hub, studying the whales’ behavior, migration patterns, and genetics. Biologist Fabio Fontes takes skin and blubber samples from males competing for mates to help researchers map family relationships within the population. These samples have revealed notable migration routes, including connections between individuals born off the Brazilian coast and others seen near South Georgia, a remote island some 4,000 kilometers to the south.

Humpbacks, which can grow up to 16 meters in length and weigh as much as six elephants, are identified by the unique pattern of white markings on their tails. Traditional photo-identification techniques, once time-consuming and labor-intensive, have been streamlined using artificial intelligence. The platform Happy Whale has cataloged over 8,300 Brazilian humpbacks and recently helped document a world record: a whale identified off Brazil was later spotted more than 15,000 kilometers away off Australia’s east coast.

The recovery of humpback whales in Brazilian waters stands as a testament to international conservation efforts and the growing understanding of these marine mammals’ biology and migratory behavior. Research at the Abrolhos archipelago continues to provide valuable insights into the species’ ecology and ongoing population health.