Like other citizen scientists, as they are known, Cardoso uses the photographs to collect information on the numbers of the marine mammals, helping researchers and scientists track the surging numbers of humpbacks in the area. "These animals survived whaling with a very, very small population remaining... something between 300 to 500 animals," Palazzo, of the Humpback Whale Institute in the state of Bahia, said. Palazzo says the surge of whales in Ilha Bela is great news for marine conservation, not only in Brazil, but worldwide. "It shows that if we can do effective protection for marine species, most of them will recover," he said. Reporting by Leonardo Benassatto; Additional reporting and writing by Steven Grattan; Editing by Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Persons: Julio Cardoso, Cardoso, we've, Jose Truda Palazzo, Palazzo, Ilha Bela, Leonardo Benassatto, Steven Grattan, Sharon Singleton Organizations: ILHA, Whale Institute, Thomson Locations: ILHA BELA, Brazil, Bela's, Bahia, Antarctica, Patagonia, Australia, Ilha