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Sharp Decline in Sri Lanka’s Blue Whale Population Raises Alarms Among Experts – By Malsha – eLanka Image Source : divemagazine The blue whale population that has long inhabited the coastal waters of Sri Lanka is showing a significant and worrying decline in sightings, according to a report published by Mongabay. Researchers attribute this drop to multiple stressors including heavy ship traffic in one of the world’s busiest maritime routes, unregulated whale tourism, pollution, rising sea surface temperatures, and broader impacts of climate change. Sri Lanka is home to a unique population of blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) in the North Indian Ocean. Unlike most blue whales that migrate seasonally, these whales remain year-round in warm waters and have a distinct vocalisation pattern, says marine biologist Asha de Vos, founder of Oceanswell — a local marine conservation and research organisation. “They are grazers, not gorgers,” de Vos explains, meaning they feed continuously ...