A humpback whale was observed swimming in New York's Hudson River on Thursday, November 12, 2026, leading to widespread social media attention. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, president of Manhattan borough, shared a photograph of the whale on Facebook, which was provided by Gotham Whale.
Gotham Whale, a citizen science and education group, has appealed for more information and photographs of the whale on X to help identify its origin and estimate its size. The group also posted a video of the whale on its Facebook page, showing it rolling over and spraying water.
While humpback whale sightings in New York were once rare, they are now increasingly common. Gotham Whale reported 272 whale sightings in the city's waters in 2018 and has documented numerous sightings since. However, the increase in whale numbers also raises concerns about risks from shipping and other hazards in busy waterways.