A rare white humpback whale was seen near Kaikōura on 10 October, sparking excitement among locals and marine experts.
The whale may be Migaloo, the world’s most famous white humpback, who was first seen in Australia in 1991 and has not been spotted there since 2020.
Only four white humpback whales have ever been recorded in the world, making this sighting extremely rare. The whale was seen surfacing near Goose Bay, just south of Kaikōura, a town well known for whale watching.
Georgia Phelps, manager of Mangamaunu Retreat, saw the whale and took photos. She said she had no idea white whales even existed before this sighting. She watched the whale for about an hour and a half with friends who had spotted it earlier.
Migaloo means “white fella” in the Mayi-Katuna Aboriginal language from north Queensland. Although it’s not confirmed whether the whale is Migaloo or a different one, experts are eager to find out.
Australian scientist Dr Vanessa Pirotta shared the photos online and encouraged people to send in any new sightings to help with identification. She reminded everyone to keep their distance from the whale but to take clear photos or videos if possible.
While humpback whales are common around Kaikōura, seeing a white one is extremely special. Phelps described it as an unforgettable moment and has reported her sighting to the official Migaloo research team.
