Arabian Sea Humpback Whale

The Arabian Sea humpback whale is a genetically and behaviorally distinct subpopulation that resides year-round in the warm waters of the Arabian Sea. Unlike almost all other humpback whales, it does not undertake long-distance migrations to polar feeding grounds. It is the only known population of humpback whales in the world that does not migrate.

No, this specific subpopulation is entirely non-migratory, choosing to stay in the tropical Arabian Sea throughout the year. They both breed and feed in this same localized region. This is highly unusual since most other humpback whales travel thousands of miles between feeding and breeding grounds.

Because they do not travel to colder waters to feed on massive swarms of krill, the Arabian Sea humpback whales rely on local prey species found in their tropical habitat. They consume small schooling fish and tiny pelagic crustaceans. They hunt using bubblenet feeding techniques just like other humpback populations.

Yes, this distinct subpopulation is considered highly endangered and faces significant threats from human activities in the region. They are particularly vulnerable to ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear due to the high traffic in the Arabian Sea. They are also heavily impacted by noise pollution from offshore oil and gas exploration.