Blue whales have gone missing off the Galápagos. Scientists think El Niño could be why.

Blue whale sightings have fallen off dramatically near the Galápagos. El Niño may be to blame.

For nine months, a scientific expedition searched for blue whales in the waters around the Galápagos Islands but found none. Between October 2025 and July 2026, the researchers surveyed areas of the Ecuadorian archipelago where the giants had historically been recorded, hoping to attach satellite tags and learn more about the animals' migratory routes. The search ended without the team tagging a single whale.

The absence coincided with unusually warm ocean conditions during an El Niño event.…