An ultra-rare white humpback whale known as the holy grail of whale watching has been spotted off Australia’s east coast.
Infamous humpback Migaloo graced Sydney on Thursday afternoon as he migrated south towards Antarctica after mating.
One of only three out of 30,000 white whales known to be in existence off the east coast put on a show while thrashing his unique dorsal tail.
Infamous humpback Migaloo graced Sydney on Thursday afternoon as he migrated south towards Antarctica after mating
The stunning footage was captured by Jonas Liebschner, a photographer for Whale Watching Sydney, who had been expectantly waiting for Migaloo all week
One of only three out of 30,000 white whales known to be in existence off the east coast put on a show while thrashing his unique dorsal tail
The stunning footage was captured by Jonas Liebschner, a photographer for Whale Watching Sydney, who had been expectantly waiting for Migaloo all week.
Migaloo, an Aboriginal word meaning ‘whitefella’, swims up the east coast of Australia between June and November.
As the Winter waters of Antarctica become too cold, he seeks out warmer climes to mate, before making the return journey.
Migaloo is often seen in the waters off Port Douglas, around one hour to the north of Cairns, and has become a popular tourist attraction.
Migaloo was spotted off the Gold Coast in July, believed to be the first time he has been seen breaching this year.
The creature was first sighted in 1991 when he was the only known white whale in the world.
Migaloo, an Aboriginal word meaning ‘whitefella’, swims up the east coast of Australia between June and November
Migaloo is often seen in the waters off Port Douglas, around one hour to the north of Cairns, and has become a popular tourist attraction
That was until an albino calf was spotted with its protective mother off the Australian coast near Sydney in 2015.
It was believed to be the offspring of Migaloo and has been unofficially named MJ (Migaloo Junior), according to The White Whale Research Centre.
Migaloo is protected under Australian law and part of Australia’s east coast humpback population that has been brought back from the brink of extinction following the halting of whaling in the early 1960s.
The creature was first sighted in 1991 when he was the only known white whale in the world
Migaloo is protected under Australian law and part of Australia’s east coast humpback population that has been brought back from the brink of extinction following the halting of whaling in the early 1960s
As the Winter waters of Antarctica become too cold, he seeks out warmer climes to mate, before making the return journey