Pakistan’s coastal waters twinkled with splashes as a pod of endangered Arabian humpback whales was spotted near Gwadar on Monday.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Pakistan, local fishermen observed more than six whales migrating from west to east, around 11 nautical miles south of the Gwadar headland.

The sights were rare and heartening, reflecting the improving biodiversity at the shores of Pakistan.

The Arabian humpback whale is a unique, non-migratory species found year-round in the Arabian Sea between Yemen and Sri Lanka.

Their population had drastically declined between 1963 and 1967 due to Soviet whaling activities. WWF researchers describe the recent sighting as a hopeful sign of potential population recovery.