Fin whales are making a comeback in the Antarctic

A fin whale.
(Image credit: Francois Gohier/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Researchers studying fin whales in the Antarctic were astonished to observe 150 of the creatures eating krill near Elephant Island — a welcome sight after they were almost hunted to extinction decades ago.

In a study published Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers said they witnessed multiple gatherings of fin whales in their ancestral feeding grounds off the coast of Antarctica. "I've never seen so many whales in one place before and was absolutely fascinated watching these massive groups feed," said study co-author Bettina Meyer, a biologist and professor at Alfred Wegener Institute.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.