Migaloo

Migaloo ("whitefella" in some Aboriginal languages) is an all-white humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) that was first sighted on June 28, 1991 on the Australian east coast near Byron Bay. The White Whale Research Centre (WWRC) was founded by Oskar Peterson in 1997 in order to raise awareness of Migaloo the white whale and it has become a collaboration of research from renowned marine experts and citizen scientists who have helped to collect and record sightings over the years. These recorded sightings are available via the website, migaloo.com.au. His singing was first recorded in 1998, which made scientists believe that Migaloo is a male humpback. After genetic analysis in 2004 by Southern Cross University scientists, it was confirmed that Migaloo is male and possibly born in the mid-to-late 1980s; some scientists believe a likely birth year of 1989. In 2022 a dead white humpback whale was washed up on a beach in Victoria that was thought to be Migaloo. After analysis by Victoria's Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) it was confirmed that the stranded whale was female and therefore not Migaloo. Since the last reported sighting of Migaloo was in 2020, there have been some questions regarding the animal's status, but scientists suggest that long periods without observation are not unusual and could be due to changes in migration routes. Migaloo is one of the most famous humpback whales on the planet, having a website dedicated to him. His popularity led to special declarations in Queensland protecting Migaloo and other whales that are greater than 90% white in colour. A non-approach zone of 500 metres in general and 610 metres for aircraft has been established.