I've mentioned the humpback whale migration a few times in earlier posts. Each year during the winter humpback whales migrate from Antarctic waters north to the warmer waters off the coast of northern Australia. They have their babies up on the reef and then return south when spring rolls around. Back in June of 1991 an albino humpback whale was spotted off the coast here and was named 'Migaloo' which means 'white fellah' in Aboriginal language.
Today all the news channels were reporting a sighting of another whale that sounds close to an albino. Here's the story from the Courier Mail: By David Earley
July 09, 2008 12:00am
MIGALOO is known as the famous white whale, but a rare second white humpback has excited whale watchers with his antics off the Gold Coast. He is known as the world's only documented white humpback whale, but Migaloo could now have a contender on his hands, with black spots on the head and tail of this new whale, the only obvious distinguishing features between the two.
Director of Marine Sciences at Sea World Trevor Long told Channel Nine it could be the first visit to Queensland's warm waters for the "beautiful tourist".
"Look it's not Migaloo. However, it's another colour variation that's pretty much almost white," Mr Long said.
"Certainly we haven't seen it here, I think it might be its first time coming through the Gold Coast."
It's not yet known if the new white whale, yet to be given a name, is male or female, but DNA samples already taken from the 40-tonne Migaloo could show if he has fathered a new heir to Queensland's whale-watching throne.
Migaloo, named after an Aboriginal word meaning white fellow, is yet to be seen this whale-watching season, but the overnight doubling of possible white whale sightings could be a tourism boon for whale watch tour operators.
Maybe I'll get to see one of them soon :o)
July 09, 2008 12:00am
MIGALOO is known as the famous white whale, but a rare second white humpback has excited whale watchers with his antics off the Gold Coast. He is known as the world's only documented white humpback whale, but Migaloo could now have a contender on his hands, with black spots on the head and tail of this new whale, the only obvious distinguishing features between the two.
Director of Marine Sciences at Sea World Trevor Long told Channel Nine it could be the first visit to Queensland's warm waters for the "beautiful tourist".
"Look it's not Migaloo. However, it's another colour variation that's pretty much almost white," Mr Long said.
"Certainly we haven't seen it here, I think it might be its first time coming through the Gold Coast."
It's not yet known if the new white whale, yet to be given a name, is male or female, but DNA samples already taken from the 40-tonne Migaloo could show if he has fathered a new heir to Queensland's whale-watching throne.
Migaloo, named after an Aboriginal word meaning white fellow, is yet to be seen this whale-watching season, but the overnight doubling of possible white whale sightings could be a tourism boon for whale watch tour operators.
Maybe I'll get to see one of them soon :o)
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