New estimate for Mediterranean sperm whale population
A study by the International Fund for Animal Welfare had produced a new estimate for the number of sperm whales living in the Mediterranean Sea.
Published by the International Whaling Commission, the research produced a figure of 1678 whales in the western part of the sea and 164 in the eastern region, giving a total of 1842 sperm whales.
The findings were produced after a study lasting nearly ten years, using acoustic surveys to detect sperm whales across the region.
It is thought the population of sperm whales in the Mediterranean is isolated from other groups and it is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List.