Rare Orca and Whale Shark Sightings Off Mozambique Prompt El Niño Questions
Scientists at the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies - Africa's only ocean observatory, located on Benguerra Island in the Bazaruto Archipelago - are reporting a sharp increase in sightings of orcas, whale sharks, leatherback turtles, hammerhead sharks, and previously unrecorded dolphin species off the Mozambique coast. Chief scientist Mario Lebrato noted that such sightings were once exceedingly rare but have become a weekly occurrence since late 2025, coinciding with shifting currents and water temperatures in the Mozambique Channel that may be affecting marine food sources.
While a direct link to El Niño has not been confirmed, scientists are exploring whether the cyclical climate phenomenon - forecast by the US Climate Prediction Center to be the most severe on record since 1950 - may be driving changes in animal migration patterns. The observatory, established in 2017, monitors more than 7,000 square kilometres of ocean and collects open-access data on sea surface temperatures, salinity, currents, and wave activity. For Mozambique's marine tourism sector, which draws divers and wildlife enthusiasts to the Bazaruto Archipelago, the unusual species activity presents both a scientific opportunity and a potential drawcard for eco-conscious travellers.
Source: Club of Mozambique
