Migaloo, Australia’s renowned white whale, has not been seen for five years, but recent drone footage off Queensland has sparked excitement among fans who hope to discover a new white whale navigating the east coast. John Laws and Emily Erskine recorded a sighting of a whale swimming north along the humpback highway near Waddy Point. Interestingly, this whale was being followed by a shark.
Describing the scene, Laws remarked on the whale’s strikingly pale appearance, noting its similarity to Migaloo, the world’s most famous humpback. Migaloo was last documented off Port Macquarie, New South Wales, in June 2020. Marine expert Pedro Wilson from SeaWorld Cruises expressed exhilaration at the sighting, stating it looked remarkably like Migaloo, further intensifying the excitement over the potential first sighting of this beloved cetacean in years.
Wilson mentioned that while the whale exhibited a predominantly white hue, it also had slight grey markings, particularly on its tail fluke. He referenced the rarity of such minimal pigmentation, highlighting that only a few whales globally share this unique feature. Scientists often collect tissue samples from whales to investigate genetic anomalies.
As the migration season commences, there is renewed hope for another sighting of Migaloo. Laws indicated that migratory whales typically head towards Hervey Bay, and both he and Erskine are eager to venture to the other side in search of the iconic whale. The enthusiasm surrounding this recent sighting underscores the enduring fascination with Migaloo and the potential discovery of a new white wonder in Australia’s waters.