As El Niño intensifies with unprecedented speed, record-high Pacific temperatures are already pushing marine species into new territory . Scientists believe the phenomenon could explain why blue whale sightings have dramatically declined in the Galápagos Islands.

From October 2025 to July 2026, researchers dispatched by the Galápagos National Park Directorate looked for these majestic creatures in areas where they had been observed before. The team’s objective was to tag individuals with satellite transmitters that would track their migratory routes, but despite nine months of continuous searching, they did not find a single one.

Water temperatures recorded during the expedition reflected El Niño’s presence. Sea surface temperatures ranged from 77.9 to 81.6 degrees Fahrenheit (25.5 to 27.6 degrees Celsius), while temperatures at a depth of 328 feet (100 meters) ranged from 66.4 to 67.4 degrees F (19.11 to 19.67 degrees C).…