Whales come in all sizes and colors, but
you rarely see one that’s all white. One of the most famous whales being
monitored right now is a rare all-white humpback whale called
Migaloo. This is the first ever documented albino humpback and researchers are
taking their time learning more about this wonderful creature.
However, news about Migaloo’s condition is
alarming them. They have noticed red marks on the rare animal while it swims
along the Australian east coast. They fear that these red spots could be an
indicator that the white whale has a form of skin cancer. According to Oskar Peterson, founder of the White Whale Research
Centre, they noticed red marks on the whale’s dorsal through photos of Migaloo
taken while it was near Sydney.
Peterson explained that the white whale was
seen with yellow and red discoloring on its skin. The yellowish pigments seen
on its skin are just natural and is caused by an algae. They’re more worried
about the rash around Migaloo’s dorsal fin. He added that they’re hoping that
while the whale makes its way to warmer waters, more photos of it will be taken
to help them access whether its current condition is serious or not. Migaloo’s
red spots were first noticed back when they first started tracking it in 1996.
Another possibility for its discoloration
would be sunburn. Since the whale has a lighter color, it’s more prone to
getting sunburned compared to the others. For now, photos of the rare white
whale are being inspected by experts at the Southern Cross University.
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