Migaloo

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Migaloo jumping photographed by Jonas Liebschner onboard Whale Watching Sydney
Part of a Song by Migaloo recorded in 1998

Migaloo (“whitefella” in some aboriginal languages) is an all-white humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) that was first sighted on the 28th of June 1991 at the Australian East Coast near Byron Bay.[1]

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 www.migaloo.com.au

His singing was first recorded in 1998, which made scientist believe that Migaloo is a male humpback. After genetic analysis in 2004 by Southern Cross University scientists, it was confirmed the Migaloo is male and possibly born in 1986.[2] In 2022 a dead white humpback whale was washed up at a beach in Victoria, Australia that was thought to be Migaloo.[3] After analysis by Victoria’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DEWLP) it was confirmed that the stranded whale was female and therefore not Migaloo.[4] The last reported sighting of Migaloo was in 2020[5] and therefore some people think Migaloo might have already died. On the other hand, scientists suggest that longer periods of absence are nothing unusual and could have several reasons such as changes in migration routes.[6]

Migaloo is one of the most famous humpback whales on the planet, with his own 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 meters for aircraft has been established.[7]

White colouration

There was discussion as to whether Migaloo's white colour was caused by true albinism or if he was leucistic or hypopygmented. The first records show that Migaloo has pinkish colour around the blowhole, no dark pigmentation in marks and scars, and seems to have skin abnormalities. These observations together provide strong evidence that Migaloo is a true albino.[1] True albinism, or tyrosinase-related oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) occurs when tyrosine is not produced or is not properly metabolised into melanin, which can be a result of multiple mutations giving a variety of phenotypes, ranging from partial to complete albinism.[1] More recently, a 2012 study by scientists from the Australian Marine Mammal Centre analyzed sloughed skin and skin biopsy samples from Migaloo in order to find the cause of the white appearance. They found a cytosine deletion in the DNA resulting in a truncated Tyrosinase protein, a confirmed molecular basis of OCA1A, confirming Migaloo as a true albino.[8]

Sightings in Australia

Other white humpback whales have been spotted in Australia and are considered rare. In 2011, a white humpback calf was sighted near the Great Barrier Reef.[9] The calf goes by the name Migaloo Jr. as people hypothesize that it could be related to Migaloo but there is no confirmation. Migaloo Jr. has a dark spot on one fluke, leading to the possibility that he is leucistic and not a true albino.

In April 2022, another white humpback whale was spotted off the coast of New South Wales. It is suggested to be a young male and has small grey colouration.[10]

In June of 2023, a white calf was recorded from a drone at Bateman's bay.

Sightings elsewhere in the world

White humpback calf sighted in Costa Rica swimming with an adult, photographed by Felipe Chávez

White humpback whale sightings are rare in other parts of the world but in 2012, a white adult humpback whale was sighted bubble-net feeding near the coast of Svalbard, Norway.[11] The individual was completely white on the dorsal side but showed some dark coloration on the underside of the fluke. Because of the dark spots as well as the dark-coloured eyes, researchers suggest it is leucistic and not an albino. During the research, it was discovered that in 2004 and 2006 there were sightings of a white humpback whale in the Barents Sea. It is likely that it was the same individual but no identification is possible based on the existing photographs.[11] In April 2022 a white humpback individual was spotted off the coast of Pico and Faial Island in the Azores; it is likely the same individual.[12]

In 2022 another sighting of a white humpback has been made. In October near the coast of Costa Rica a young white individual has been sighted and photographed with a non-white adult.[13][14] The calf was spotted by a pilot flying over northwestern Costa Rica. This was the first sighting of a white humpback whale in the Eastern Pacific. This calf is hypopigmented, without a clear conclusion about the exact chromatic abnormality determining its white coloration.[14]

Name controversy

After a rise in popularity, the public wanted to have a name for the whale. The researchers chose the name "Migaloo". The term "migaloo" means "whitefella" amongst aboriginal people in Queensland. The term was chosen after the researchers contacted local Aboriginal people in order to find an appropriate name for the whale.[15]

There is discussion of whether the name is appropriate as Aboriginal terms for white people can have ambiguous meanings and can also describe disembodied human spirits.[16] Some people consider the term "migaloo" as a name for a famous whale as a questionable choice considering the suffering white settlers have brought to the Aboriginal people of Australia.[15]

Migration

As a humpback whale, Migaloo undertakes seasonal migrations between the feeding grounds at high latitudes and the breeding grounds located in more tropical areas. He belongs to one of the 7 breeding stocks recognized in the Southern Hemisphere, feeding mostly on Antarctic grounds, and moving north to breeding areas near Australia, where whales spend approximately 2 months.[17]

Since his first sighting in 1991, the unique color of Migaloo has allowed scientists to study individual migration patterns, given the high availability of sightings data.[18] Migaloo migrates along the eastern part of Australia at a migration rate of between 125[17] and 140[18] km/day, with a mean speed of 5.2 km/h, faster than the mean speed recorded for other humpback whales, likely because he is an adult male and endures faster travelling speeds than juveniles and females with calves, for example. Another reason for the high speed could be to avoid harassment from whale-watching boats and other recreational vessels.[17]

This whale shows high consistency in his migration, passing through Cape Byron/Ballina approximately at the same time each year during both the northwards and southwards migration.[18] Migaloo has been seen travelling mainly in pods of 2 individuals, but also alone or in surface-active groups.[1]

Migaloo´s absence from East Australian waters and his recent sighting in New Zealand[19] might suggest that the migration route changes with time.[20]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Forestell, Paul H.; Paton, David A.; Hodda, Paul; Kaufman, Gregory D. (2001-12-31). "Observations of a hypo-pigmented humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, off east coast Australia: 1991-2000". Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 47: 437–450. ISSN 0079-8835.
  2. ^ "Migaloo, the white whale - Southern Cross University". www.scu.edu.au. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  3. ^ "Experts work to determine if white whale carcass on Victorian beach is that of Migaloo". ABC News. 2022-07-16. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  4. ^ "Experts confirm white whale carcass on Victorian beach is not Migaloo". the Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 2022-07-16. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  5. ^ "Rare albino humpback named 'Migaloo' spotted in Australia". 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  6. ^ "Migaloo, where art thou? Why haven't we seen the white whale?". cosmosmagazine.com. 2022-11-30. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  7. ^ "Special management declarations: protecting whales such as Migaloo" (PDF).
  8. ^ Polanowski, Andrea M.; Robinson-Laverick, Sarah M.; Paton, David; Jarman, Simon N. (2012-01-01). "Variation in the Tyrosinase Gene Associated with a White Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)". Journal of Heredity. 103 (1): 130–133. doi:10.1093/jhered/esr108. ISSN 1465-7333. PMID 22140253.
  9. ^ "Rare white whale calf spotted off Australia". phys.org. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  10. ^ Harry Baker (2022-04-26). "Rare white humpback whale spotted swimming with dolphins Down Under". livescience.com. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  11. ^ a b Lydersen, Christian; Øien, Nils; Mikkelsen, Bjarni; Bober, Simon; Fisher, Dan; Kovacs, Kit M. (2013-01-01). "A white humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Atlantic Ocean, Svalbard, Norway, August 2012". Polar Research. 32 (1): 19739. doi:10.3402/polar.v32i0.19739. S2CID 128835235.
  12. ^ "The white Humpback whale - CW Azores". www.cwazores.com. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  13. ^ White, Robyn (2022-10-05). "Migaloo take two? Rare albino humpback whale pictured swimming with mom". Newsweek. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  14. ^ a b Mora, José Manuel; López, Lucía I.; Cruz, Luis A.; Chaves, Gerardo (2022-12-27). "First Record of a White Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, from the Eastern Tropical Pacific". Caribbean Journal of Science. 52 (2). doi:10.18475/cjos.v52i2.a17. ISSN 0008-6452. S2CID 255186756.
  15. ^ a b Trigger, David. "Whales, Whitefellas and the Ambiguity of 'Nativeness': Reflections on the Emplacement of Australian Identities". Island (107): 25–36.
  16. ^ Merlan, Francesca (1983). "The Mayi Languages of the Queensland Gulf Country . Gavan Breen". American Anthropologist. 85 (3): 741. doi:10.1525/aa.1983.85.3.02a00740. ISSN 0002-7294.
  17. ^ a b c Burns, Daniel; Brooks, Lyndon; Harrison, Peter; Franklin, Trish; Franklin, Wally; Paton, David; Clapham, Phil (2014). "Migratory movements of individual humpback whales photographed off the eastern coast of Australia". Marine Mammal Science. 30 (2): 562–578. doi:10.1111/mms.12057.
  18. ^ a b c Burns, Daniel; Brooks, Lyndon; Clapham, Phil; Harrison, Peter (2013). "Between-year synchrony in migratory timing of individual humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae". Marine Mammal Science. 29 (1): 228–235. doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2011.00557.x.
  19. ^ "White humpback whale sighted off NZ coast". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  20. ^ Pirotta, Vanessa; Franklin, Wally; Mansfield, Leigh; Lowe, Jodie; Peterson, Oskar (2022-11-11). "Sighting records of "Migaloo" the white humpback whale provide evidence of Australian site fidelity and use of New Zealand waters as a migratory route". Australian Zoologist. preprint (2022): 000. doi:10.7882/AZ.2022.043. ISSN 2204-2105. S2CID 253493619.
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