Wildlife

First Blue Whales in 100 Years Seen North of Scandinavia

Marine researchers say they have found blue whales swimming in the waters of the Barents Sea, north of Scandinavia and European Russia, after a century of absence.

The largest animals to have ever existed on the planet were hunted to near extinction by whaling fleets in the 20th century until they became protected by international agreement in 1966.

Their numbers have recently rebounded worldwide.

The giant cetaceans were spotted in the Barents Sea this past summer by coast guard ships and cruise vessels.

"This is great news,” said senior researcher at the Norwegian Polar Institute Keith Kovach.

In 20 years of operating in the region, the institute says blue whales had not been spotted once until this summer.