There is only one all-white humpback whale known in the world, and its name is Migaloo.
The whale is presumed to be albino and is often spotted along the east coast of Australia. It was first seen back in 1991 and is believed to now be about 26 years old. It was determined that Migaloo is a male.
The name Migaloo is an indigenous Australian word for “white fella.”
Due to the attention the whale has received, legislation had to be passed in 2009 to provide a zone of exclusion around the wale.
Another white humpback was spotted in 2008, but that specimen has black markings on its head and tail.
Sources
- The White Whale Research Centre (Migaloo.com.au)
- New white whale spotted (Alison Feeney-Hart, BBC News: July 22, 2008)
- Exclusion zone for special whale (BBC News: June 30, 2009)