World-famous humpback whale feared to be found stranded on Australian beach
Migaloo, the world's only known albino humpback whale, was first spotted in 1991 off Byron Bay - he was followed by whales scientists since until two years ago when the tracking device fell
The carcass of a very rare albino whale has washed up on a beach in Australia (
Image: Peter Coles/Sky News)
The rare white whale washed up on a beach is feared to be the famous Migaloo humpback whale, first spotted off Byron Bay in 1991 and now a household name.
The carcass of an albino whale was found stranded in Mallacoota, eastern Victoria, on an Australian beach accessible only by water.
Migaloo, which means 'White Fellow' in Aboriginal, disappeared two years ago after losing its tracking device and is the only known all-white humpback whale in the world.
Local resident Peter Coles, who had been out fishing when he kayaked across to see the dead mammal.
He said, "It was beautiful even though he was dead. It was quite spectacular.
"It was pure white and marbled in appearance. I thought it looked like a sculpture, it almost didn't look real.
Picture:
Peter Coles / Sky News)"I surveyed it and it was 10m long. I didn't touch it and it smelled a little bad.
"There were no signs of decomposition but it looked very, very dead."
Mr. Coles, who took photos of the humpback whale, continued, "I felt sad for the poor creature, not knowing it could be Migaloo."
He said it was only later that he discovered the rare albino whale.
He added: "When we talked about it, I realized that it could be something quite rare if it was the white whale.
“That would mean that I witnessed something incredible without knowing it at the time.”
Wildlife specialist Dr Vanessa Pirotta tweeted: "This is a photo of the white whale stranded in Victoria.
"We are currently working with other scientists to identify this individual.
"It may or may not be Migaloo. Nothing confirmed yet."
Migaloo, the world's only known albino humpback whale, was first spotted in 1991 off Byron Bay - he was followed by whales scientists since until two years ago when the tracking device fell
The carcass of a very rare albino whale has washed up on a beach in Australia (
Image: Peter Coles/Sky News)
The rare white whale washed up on a beach is feared to be the famous Migaloo humpback whale, first spotted off Byron Bay in 1991 and now a household name.
The carcass of an albino whale was found stranded in Mallacoota, eastern Victoria, on an Australian beach accessible only by water.
Migaloo, which means 'White Fellow' in Aboriginal, disappeared two years ago after losing its tracking device and is the only known all-white humpback whale in the world.
Local resident Peter Coles, who had been out fishing when he kayaked across to see the dead mammal.
He said, "It was beautiful even though he was dead. It was quite spectacular.
"It was pure white and marbled in appearance. I thought it looked like a sculpture, it almost didn't look real.
Picture:
Peter Coles / Sky News)"I surveyed it and it was 10m long. I didn't touch it and it smelled a little bad.
"There were no signs of decomposition but it looked very, very dead."
Mr. Coles, who took photos of the humpback whale, continued, "I felt sad for the poor creature, not knowing it could be Migaloo."
He said it was only later that he discovered the rare albino whale.
He added: "When we talked about it, I realized that it could be something quite rare if it was the white whale.
“That would mean that I witnessed something incredible without knowing it at the time.”
Wildlife specialist Dr Vanessa Pirotta tweeted: "This is a photo of the white whale stranded in Victoria.
"We are currently working with other scientists to identify this individual.
"It may or may not be Migaloo. Nothing confirmed yet."
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