Scientists are warning of an increased risk of collisions between whales and ships off South Africa's south-western coast, caused by changing shipping routes due to conflicts in the Middle East.
The rerouting of ships around South Africa since 2023, when Houthi rebels hijacked a British-owned vessel near Yemen, has substantially increased the chances of vessels striking the mammals in the region, they say.
The US and Israel's ongoing war with Iran has worsened the situation.
This has led to more ships transporting goods between Asia and Europe sailing around Africa to avoid the Middle East.
Around 89 commercial vessels sailed around the Cape of Good Hope between March and April this year, almost double the figure of 44 over the same period in 2023, according to AFP, quoting the International Monetary Fund's PortWatch report.
