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A rare sighting of a white humpback whale has captured the attention of whale watchers off the New South Wales South Coast, challenging typical migration patterns.
The elusive creature was initially spotted near South Durras, close to Batemans Bay, early in the morning. It later made another appearance more than 50 kilometers away, off Warden Head near Ulladulla, in the afternoon.
Experts from the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) have been analyzing the footage to determine if this whale could be Migaloo, the famous albino whale of Australia’s east coast, who hasn’t been seen since 2020.
ORRCA has since confirmed that the whale is not Migaloo, but instead a unique one-year-old white humpback, measuring approximately 10 meters in length.
This remarkable whale was previously observed in Tonga earlier in 2024.
It was first seen in Tonga in 2024.
“Importantly, this is not ‘Migaloo,’” ORRCA said.
“The appearance of another white whale in this population makes today’s sighting incredibly unique, exciting and special.”
ORRCA is unable to confirm whether the whale is white in nature due to albinism, as there is no footage of its underside.
Whales can appear white either because of albinism – where whales lack pigment completely – or leucism – where whales have reduced pigment but are not fully albino.
The whale is currently travelling north despite the late stage of migration.
ORRCA said its movements are “very unusual”, but it will need to wait for more sightings to assess its travel pattern more accurately.
It’s a question that whale watchers, scientists, and organisations have been asking for the last five years.
Migaloo, meaning “white fella” in some Aboriginal languages, is considered the one and only true albino whale in Australia’s east coast whale population.
He is an adult male whale, estimated to have been born in 1986.
The elusive mammal was first spotted travelling through Byron Bay in June 1991, and has been seen as far as the Whitsundays in north Queensland and Cape Schanck in Victoria.
He was last seen off Port Macquarie in June 2020, with no confirmed sightings since.
The Queensland and federal governments have special legislation to protect him from harassment, with any vessels or aircraft that get too close to be fined $16,500.
Migaloo, wherever he is, would be 39 years old today.
The average lifespan of a humpback whale is about 50 years, but some have been recorded to live up to 90 years.
