Sighting of huge groups of fin whales offers sign of hope for ocean giants

This handout photograph taken by Dan Beecham on March 22, 2019 and released on July 7, 2022 by the University of Hambourg shows a fin whale in front of icebergs at the northern coast of Elephant Island. Photo: Dan Beecham/ University of Hamburg/AFP

For the first time since whaling was banned, dozens of southern fin whales have been filmed feasting together in a "thrilling" Antarctic spectacle, hailed by scientists on July 7 as a sign of hope for the world's second largest animal.

The ocean giants are second only to blue whales in length, with slender bodies that help them glide through the water at high speed.