Whale of a Problem: Iran's War Threatens Conservation Gains Recent sightings of nearly 300 humpback whales gathering off South Africa's coast have sparked excitement among conservationists, who see it as a heartening sign that some whale species are rebounding after decades of hunting.
The "supergroup" phenomenon, in which hundreds of whales congregate to feed on krill and small fish, is rare but increasingly common in the southern hemisphere.
Thirty five years ago, international hunting bans came into effect, marking a turning point for many whale species.