Everything you need to know about Migaloo, the White Whale
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By Danielle Reckless
If you're searching for unique wildlife and special moments with them, Queensland is the place to be.
And while there are countless incredible species of marine life to meet up close or admire from afar, there's one particular gentle giant who captures the attention and anticipation of locals and travellers each year: Migaloo.
If you haven’t heard of Migaloo, then here’s your tell-all about Australia’s most famous humpback whale. An icon in our seas, Migaloo’s migration pattern passes between the tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef and freezing Antarctica along the east coast of Australia.
Though he's not spotted every migration season, scientists believe the elusive Migaloo is one of the rare few - if not only - white humpback whales in our waters.
Here's what you need to know about Migaloo, our white whale.
Let's introduce you to Migaloo
Photo by @sarahmgower
Migaloo is an adult male humpback whale, estimated to have been born in the late 1980s. He was first spotted in 1991 when he was passing through Byron Bay, and is one of an estimated 35,000 humpback whales that migrate yearly, as they make the 10,000-kilometre journey from their Antarctic summer feeding grounds to winter breeding grounds further north in Queensland's warmer, tropical waters.
Migaloo remains the only known albino humpback whale in Australia’s east coast population, and to see him is incredibly special - with the last sighting in 2020 off the coast of Port Macquarie, NSW.
Why is Migaloo white?
With brown eyes and a white pigmented exterior, Migaloo isn’t hard to spot in a pod of humpback whales. His hypo-pigmentation is likely a genetic mutation, and scientists had long speculated whether he is a true albino or if he is leucistic: an inability to produce pigment but with coloured eyes. However, in 2004, tissue samples collected from Migaloo confirmed his lack of pigmentation was due to albinism.
That's not the only way to identify him, though. Dr Wally Franklin, director of the Oceania Project, explains Migaloo has two telltale bumps on his back along with unique serrations on the outer side of his tail fluke. That's how scientists can be sure it's in fact Migaloo, and not another rare albino whale, when he is spotted in our ocean.
Migaloo is protected
Being so unique, Migaloo is protected under Queensland and Commonwealth Government legislation, which states that no vessel is allowed to get within 500 metres of him. Humpback whales can live up to 50 years so it’s important we look after him as long as possible.
His name is Indigenous
Photo by @reefcruises
Named after his traditional roots, and being the only known Australian white whale, it’s only fitting that Migaloo’s name means “white fella” in some Indigenous languages.
Migaloo is (almost) one of a kind
Migaloo is one of a handful of known white whales worldwide and was the first one ever sighted.
Oceania Project's Dr Franklin said the likelihood of a humpback whale being born albino was about one in 40,000. Only one such whale, our Migaloo, has ever been spotted on Australia's east coast.
There are 3-4 other known white-appearing humpback whales spotted in Queensland from time to time: Bahloo, Willow and Migaloo Jnr (although it’s unknown whether he is related to Migaloo). Unlike Migaloo, however, these mammals have some black spots on their body, leading researchers to believe they have a condition called leucism, or hypo-pigmentation.
But is there a Migatoo?
In June 2023, a photographer filmed what appears to be a small white whale off the coast of New South Wales. Quickly dubbed 'Migatoo', media and researchers have speculated whether this might be another rare albino whale like Migaloo.
The small calf was spotted with its mother, which leads scientists to believe it is probably not albino but rather a newborn - very young calves can appear white or yellow in colour. Time - and hopefully some more local sightings - will help determine if Migatoo is a white whale.
Where to spot Migaloo
Photo by @whalesinparadise
Migaloo is a rare and elusive humpback whale - last officially spotted in 2020 - so any sightings are incredibly special. In 2015, scientists explained that Migaloo may start to swim further offshore as he matures, making it possible that we’ll see less of him over the coming years.
However, his migration route is a highway for thousands of other humpback whales that travel Australia's east coast between June and November each year, on the way to the birthing and mating grounds of the Great Barrier Reef.
If you want to witness this majestic journey, Queensland's coastline boasts countless destinations to go whale watching, including the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay - the world's first Whale Heritage Site - and all the way north to Cairns. In many spots, you can even swim with humpack whales.
Think you've seen Migaloo or Migatoo? Let us know!
Citizen science at its best: marine researchers ask anyone who thinks they spot Migaloo to send the information and/or photos to the White Whale Research Centre.
Want to learn more about Migaloo and whales like him? Discover these fascinating facts about humpback whales.
Feature image: @craigparryphotography
