KARACHI: A sperm whale was recently sighted off Karachi’s coast, the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) reported on Friday, highlighting the urgent need to safeguard remarkable marine life inhabiting Pakistan’s offshore waters.
The whale, estimated to be around 45 feet long, was encountered during an expedition by Zahid Maker, a WWF-P board member.
Describing the encounter as important, experts stated that it’s the first recorded observation of a sperm whale along the Sindh coast, with previous sightings reported from the Balochistan coast.
The footage captured also revealed the species’ characteristic blowhole, distinctive skin markings and prominent hump.
“Pakistan’s waters support an extraordinary diversity of marine life, much of which remains poorly understood and documented. Sightings of large whales such as the sperm whale remind us of the ecological importance of our offshore waters and the need to protect the habitats and food chains that sustain these species,” said Rab Nawaz, WWF-P senior director.
Safeguarding marine biodiversity required stronger conservation measures, responsible fishing practices and collective action to reduce the pressures on marine ecosystems, he added.
Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) — the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator — primarily feed on cephalopods, including medium-sized, giant and colossal squids, as well as octopuses.
Pakistan’s coastal and offshore waters support diverse populations of these species, including the purpleback flying squid and diamondback squid, which form part of the sperm whale’s diet.
These mammals are deep divers, typically descending between 300 and 800 metres and, in some cases, reaching depths of one to two kilometres in search of food. Pakistan’s deep-sea ecosystems also support a diverse range of mesopelagic organisms that contribute to these marine food webs.
According to experts, the organisation has documented 26 species of cetaceans in Pakistan, including large whales such as the blue whale, Bryde’s whale and the Arabian Sea humpback whale, alongside several species of toothed whales and dolphins. Several toothed whale species have also been documented in Pakistan’s waters for the first time through WWF-P’s efforts.
Protecting these marine ecosystems through sustainable fishing practices and responsible human activities was essential to ensuring that whales, dolphins and other marine species continue to thrive in the Arabian Sea, they added.
Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2026
