The Saudi National Center for Wildlife has documented repeated sightings of a Bryde’s whale in the Farasan Islands marine reserve, according to a report by صحيفة سبق الإلكترونية. The sightings were recorded in the protected area, which lies off the country’s southwestern Red Sea coast.
The center’s observations highlight the reserve’s role as a habitat for marine wildlife, the report states. The Farasan Islands are already known as a conservation zone, and the whale’s presence adds to the site’s ecological significance.
According to the report, the repeated encounters with the Bryde’s whale reinforce the importance of the Farasan Islands as a destination for wildlife. The species is a baleen whale that typically inhabits warm, tropical waters, making the Red Sea a suitable environment.
The center’s documentation effort appears to be part of ongoing monitoring in the area. While the report does not specify how many sightings occurred or over what period, it describes them as “repeated,” suggesting the whale has been observed more than once.
The Farasan Islands reserve is one of several protected marine areas managed by Saudi authorities. The new whale sightings could support further conservation planning in the region.
Observers will likely watch whether the whale remains in the area and whether the center releases additional data on its movements. For now, the sightings serve as a reminder of the biodiversity present in Saudi Arabia’s southern Red Sea waters.
