Call Me Migaloo: One Of The World’s Only White Humpback Whales Spotted Off Australian Coast

#Science: rare appearance of extremely rare #white #whale ‘#Migaloo’ ► http://t.co/oGNQyHIm39 via @Independent pic.twitter.com/jiZun8Y3Pw

— Maxime Duprez (@maximaxoo) June 20, 2014

First seen in 1991, Migaloo is one of the rarest whales in the world, and also one of the most popular–Queenland’s animal welfare legislation even has a special clause designed to protect him from his many devotees. The Independent reported Wednesday (humpday!) that Migs had been spotted for the first time in 2014, off the coast of Australia.

Oskar Peterson, head of the White Whale Research Centre, told The Independent that if Migaloo fans hurry, they might be able to see the white whale in the flesh:

Now’s the time down there in Eden (in New South Wales), down the south coast and Illawarra to get out there over the next couple of weeks, you’ll have a good chance of spotting him[…] He sort of glows in the water like a fluorescent blue. He’s quite an amazing sight.

Migaloo was originally thought to be albino, but since he doesn’t have the red or pink eyes typically associated with the genetic disorder, scientists now think its more likely he’s hypo-pigmented. Or magical. Right, science? Have we considered that theory?

(via io9, featured image via Lisa Koivu on Flickr)

Previously in whale tales,

• eBay won’t let desperate Canadian town auction off whale carcass or 99 cents
• It’s dangerous to go alone: pilot whales dive together
• Cat parasites are now infecting beluga whales

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