Possible signs of recovery of the nearly extirpated Spitsbergen bowhead whales: calves observed in east Greenland

The Spitsbergen population of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) was harvested to near extinction during the whaling era. Here, we show possible signs of recovery of the population by reporting observations of two calves in the Scoresby Sund polynya in East Greenland on 2 and 4 May 2022, and it is the first observation of this kind in this area since the early 1900s.

Automated summary

This study reports the observation of two bowhead whale calves in the Scoresby Sund polynya in East Greenland on 2 and 4 May 2022, suggesting possible signs of recovery of the population. This is the first observation of its kind in this area since the early 1900s.