A blue whale was observed in January 2023 near Isla de la Plata, Ecuador.

This is one of a handful of records of the species off Ecuador.
The blue whale is the largest animal that has ever existed on earth.
It can reach up to 30 m and weigh 150 tons.
It is an endangered species that is slowly recovering.
The sighting occurred during an investigation on cetaceans in coastal waters carried out by Ecuadorian researchers.
The record demonstrates the importance of Ecuador's coastal waters for many endangered marine species.
Promoting marine research is vital to understanding ecological processes and generating information for properly managing these species.