Wandy & Tim Hochgrebe, the owners of Planula Bed & Breakfast in Byron Bay , sent the following message and photo on Monday, October 1st, 2007:
"Two of our guests were extremely lucky yesterday on their whale watching trip. Although it is very common to see loads of whales with their calves at this time of the year, spotting Migaloo the albino humpback whale right here in the bay is something very special. And this is their photo! Thanks, Maria and Daniel for letting us put this up in our news blog."
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August 28, 2007
G’day;
I’m the owner of the game boat Shaka. We were heading out on a fishing trip to the reef north east of Townsville on August 28 when we came across Migaloo off Palm Island. We spent about 30 minutes tossing around in a 20-25 knot wind watching him. He breached 5 times.
Regards, John Hendry
(watch Mr. Hendry's slide show of Migaloo photos here)
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Albino whale 'Migaloo' spotted on annual leave
August 5, 2007
Migaloo, Australia's best-known white humpback whale, was spotted off Cape Tribulation in north Queensland yesterday, close to the end of his annual winter migration up the east coast. The world famous whale was spotted by the crew of Silversonic, a dive boat taking tourists to Agincourt Reef off Port Douglas, just after 9am. He was cruising near Undine Cay about 9 nautical miles off shore.
 Migaloo the white whale spotted off Qld coast
July 24, 2007
The most famous white whale in the world, Migaloo, has today been spotted frolicking off waters in Queensland's far north.
June 25, 2007
Marc McCormack, a photographer with the Cairns Post, reports that Migaloo was sighted off Pickersgill Reef 90 nautical miles north of Cairns. The sighted described Migaloo swimming with three other humback whales.
Rare Pink Dolphin Seen in Louisiana Lake
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
A charter-boat captain from Lake Charles, La., photographed a rare pink dolphin a couple of weeks ago in Calcasieu Lake, an estuary just north of the Gulf of Mexico in southwestern Louisiana.
Respect distance around Migaloo
July 8, 2007
Migaloo the white humpback whale is reported to have entered Queensland waters on his 2007 migration, but it could be very costly if people try to get too close. Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr has declared Migaloo a special interest whale in Queensland waters to ensure he can swim freely and safely.
 Abandoned South African humpback whale returns
(not Migaloo)
July 7, 2007
The prodigal humpback whale that was “abandoned” at Coega by its mother one and a half years ago seems to have returned – and is still doing strange things. In October 2005, several witnesses described how a humpback calf – apparently the same one photographed on Monday – arrived at Coega with its mother and then was left behind. Despite predictions that it would die without its mother‘s milk, it survived, apparently feeding on swarms of shrimp-like krill.
A whale of a time
July 5, 2007
Queenslanders are being urged to spend a winter weekend in their own backyard getting up close and personal with humpback whales. A new $250,000 advertising blitz launched yesterday seeks to lure Queenslanders to Hervey Bay, in the state's south-east corner, to watch the majestic mammals' annual winter migration.
Spruiking the new Fraser Coast Whale Watch campaign, Queensland Tourism Minister Margaret Keech said the natural phenomenon off the Fraser Coast had attracted 70,000 international and domestic visitors in the past year. Mrs Keech said she expected that number to climb thanks to the campaign, comprising a new television commercial, a website, and the distribution of hundreds of thousands of brochures via the media and visitor information centres. The television ad features spectators excitedly waving at nearby whales as they "wave back'' by thrusting their fins in the air.
"Hervey Bay is Australia's premier whale-watching region,'' Mrs Keech said. "Fraser Coast's proximity to the south-east corner makes it the perfect destination for a weekend getaway and offers the best opportunities to get up close and personal with migrating whales at play over the next four months.''
White whale prompts ADF to consider training site move
Thu Jun 28, 2007
Migaloo has been spotted swimming towards Shoalwater Bay and there are fears sonar equipment used in naval exercises could cause him to beach. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) says it is considering moving future military exercises away from Queensland's environmentally sensitive Shoalwater Bay area.
 Migaloo the White Whale frustrates US-Australian War Games
28.06.2007
Migaloo, the white humpback whale, is forcing the USA and Australian military forces to reconsider using the Great Barrier reef for war games. The USA and Australian Defence forces have faced down a civil disobedience peace campaign against their Talisman Sabre War Games, from June 19 to July 2, at Shoalwater Bay near Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, only to come up against the white whale!
Rare white humpback whale, Migaloo, spotted
Tue Jun 26, 2007
Record numbers of humpback whales are on their annual migration up Australia's east coast, including the rare white whale Migaloo, scientists say. Migaloo was spotted this week off Heron Island, on Queensland's central coast, by resort staff on a fishing trip. Ben Friese, who was one of the lucky few on board, described the close encounter with the 14m whale as a "one-in-a-million chance".
Whale of a time for Migaloo
June 26, 2007
Migaloo the white whale has sparked a fresh whale-watching frenzy after being spotted frolicking off Heron Island off the central Queensland coast. The elusive albino – believed to be the only pure-white humpback in the world – has been a magnet for whale watchers since his first sighting off the Tweed coast in northern New South Wales in 1991. Channel 9’s latest footage of Migaloo – Aboriginal for ``white fella’’ – comes just days after the 14m white humpback was spotted off Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island.
Migaloo and his growing herd move north
25 June 2007
A record number of humpback whales are passing North Stradbroke Island as UQ researchers start aerial surveys to verify their numbers. The first whales for this year's survey of an estimated 10,000 strong humpback population were counted from Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island last Tuesday on their annual migration into the Great Barrier Reef. Among them is Migaloo, the rare all-white whale.
 Fears for whale caught in crayfish gear
(not Migaloo)
June 19, 2007
A humpback whale entangled in crayfishing gear may soon be in sight of the North Island and the Department of Conservation is urging people to report sightings so a rescue can get under way.
Whale sightings spark shark control preparation
Thu Apr 26, 2007
Queensland's Shark Control program is preparing for the next whale migration. Program general manager Baden Lane says whales have begun moving up the east coast. He says Parks and Wildlife officers in New South Wales have reported sightings off Byron Bay. "We're in the position now of trying to drive some national standards of safety for all people who operate in this particular environment," he said. "I guess at this point, I would encourage people not to go near whales. They are not a warm fuzzy animal like people like to think, they are very big and they are very, very strong."
 Migaloo is on the move
Wednesday 05 July 2006
Southern Cross University researchers had a spectacular start to the annual two-week Cape Byron Whale Research Project as Migaloo trekked past the coast flanked by several other whales and pods of dolphins yesterday (June 26). The annual count started on Sunday, June 25, and will continue for 13 days until July 7. Dan Burns, who is one of the co-ordinators of the project and a PhD student with the Southern Cross University Whale Research Centre, was on the water hoping to collect another sloughed skin sample from Migaloo as he passed.
Migaloo's turtle cousin
Monday, 3 July 2006
While Migaloo keeps to the southern Queensland waters, he has a relation of sorts in the Tropical North - an albino turtle who was found on Mackay's Blacks Beach about three months ago. There were grave concerns for the welfare of the cute white turtle who was shipped off to the Great Barrier Reef Marina Park Authority's Reef HQ in Townsville to be monitored and cared for. Turtle carer Paul Groves is pleased to report that the little fellow is doing very well indeed. After arriving at Reef HQ weighing 24g and measuring 51mm in length, he's now a whopping 140g and 105mm long. "He's actually outgrown his tank," Paul explains.
Migaloo spotted off Coffs Harbour
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Migaloo is on his way to Queensland waters. The rare white whale, Migaloo, has been sighted near the Solitary Islands off Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales mid-north coast. The whale is on its northerly migration from Antarctica to breeding grounds in Queensland.
Stormy seas for Migaloo and friends
April 20, 2005
Like the most fabled of whales, Migaloo is elusive. The "white fella" has been seen many times off the east coast of Australia over the past 15 years, but has also disappeared for up to three years at a time. So when the whale researcher Daniel Burns heard too late that the world's only totally white humpback had passed Cape Byron on a northward migration last June, his disappointment was real.
An overview of Migaloo in the context of the drive to resume whaling
University says white whale is male
Thursday, 7 October 2004 – A historic genetic test has confirmed Migaloo the white whale is male. Researchers at Lismore's Southern Cross University in northern New South Wales collected skin samples from the mammal as it travelled with another whale on its southern migration. The University's Dan Burns says it is the first time a genetic sample has been taken from an albino whale or dolphin. He says researchers were extremely fortunate.
"It was actually his mate breached and we were sort of thinking, beauty, we can get skin there and find out information about that whale, and then about 10 seconds later, Migaloo breached about 30 metres away," he said. "From there and we were able to head over there and small bits of skin fall off, we just go over and scoop that up and away we go!"
When an eligible whale leaves his bachelor pod
June 28, 2004 – The romantic notion of a white whale hit unprecedented amorous heights yesterday when Migaloo, the world's only identified pale humpback, paraded what is thought to be a new girlfriend off the state's Far North Coast.
Migaloo and mate paint a living portrait
June 23, 2004 – Migaloo, the pure white humpback whale, is heading north with his 'girlfriend', a regular humpback. The rare white humpback and his mate were frolicking off Kingscliff in northern NSW yesterday.
White whale spotted off NSW
Tuesday, 22 June 2004 – The white whale Migaloo has been sighted in waters off northern New South Wales this morning. Travelling with three other humpbacks, the white whale passed by the Cape Byron lighthouse about 600 metres off-shore.
Australia's White Whale Charges Boats
A rare white whale making its way up Australia's east coast is showing signs he is growing tired of his celebrity status.
Rare albino whale cruises Sydney
June 17, 2004 – The world's only known albino humpback whale has cruised past Sydney's coastline today, heading north for winter. Migaloo was sighted off Sydney's premier whale watching lookout at Cape Solander in Botany Bay National Park late this morning.
Fans told to give Migaloo wide berth
23jun04 – MIGALOO the white humpback has been declared a whale of special interest to ensure safe passage during his annual migration through Queensland waters. The declaration took effect yesterday.
Leave the rare humpback alone, says LI professor
Paul Forestell will never forget his first encounter with the rare white whale Migaloo, who has been at the center of an international hullabaloo in recent days. It was in 1992, when Forestell, now a professor at Southampton College of Long Island University, was working on a project about humpback whales in Australia. Forestell had seen thousands of humpbacks in the wild. He believed he knew what to expect. Then he spotted the white whale in Hervey Bay, north of Brisbane. "I thought it would be this shoddy, scratched up whale," he says. "This thing glowed in the water. It seemed like a sacred being."
Experts on Rare All-White Humpback Whale Ask World to "Give Him Space"
"We are concerned about the well-being of this unusual and beautiful whale," says Greg Kaufman, President and founder of Pacific Whale Foundation. "This year, the attention to the whale has reached astounding proportions, and the whale is becoming victimized by his star status."
Call for sightings of Migaloo
Researchers from Queensland's Environmental Protection Agency are on the lookout for Migaloo the white whale so that further information about him can be gathered. Environment Minister Dean Wells said EPA researchers wanted to find the whale, both for scientific purposes and to allow a follow-up health check after his recent collision with a trimaran. "If anybody spots the whale I ask them to report the location to the marine strandings hotline on 1-300-360-898." Mr Wells said scientists were particularly interested in retrieving a skin sample, which would allow DNA testing to be conducted.
White whale tracked for DNA
The Queensland government said today it would allow researchers to track down and obtain a DNA sample from Migaloo
No evasive action possible before impact
Tuesday, 19 August , 2003
One injured whale has again sent east coast Australians into a frenzy. The whale, a rare specimen belonging to a species of the world's only albino whale group is apparently badly injured after being struck by a boat. The pearly-white humpback, who's called "Migaloo", has been seen on just a handful of occasions, and reappeared only recently, on her way to breeding grounds on the Great Barrier Reef. But now a large-scale search has been launched for "Migaloo", and the skipper who hit him says it wasn't his fault.
A Plea for a Whale
On 13 September 1992, while conducting humpback whale research in Hervey Bay for the Pacific Whale Foundation and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, I got word there was an all-white humpback whale out in Platypus Bay, along the west side of Fraser Island. My research assistants and I went to the area to see the most amazing whale I have seen in 25 years of studying them - a pure white whale, approximately 13 meters long, with pectoral fins stretched 5 meters out to either side of its body.
Scientists plan to track the rare white whale Migaloo
The Queensland Government is moving to protect Migaloo, the world's only known white humpback whale, by fitting it with a radio-tracking device. Environment Minister Dean Wells says that after a yacht hit the whale off Townsville, the government has decided to do more to protect it.
Search finds white whale
Migaloo was spotted by a boat operator 7 nautical miles south-southeast of Palm Island just after lunch yesterday. Late yesterday afternoon, State Environment Minister Dean Wells formally extended a special protection order which has declared the whale an animal of special interest. An aerial sighting of Migaloo found it was swimming with another whale.
Rare whale lives life of mystery
Herman Melville's fictional white whale in "Moby Dick" was a sperm whale, a rare member of that species that lacked pigmentation. There are naturally white whales, notably the beluga, which starts life gray and turns white as it gets older. But white whales are unusual. What about white humpbacks? "There has never been a documented occurrence of an albino humpback whale anywhere in the world," said Paul Forestell of the Pacific Whale Foundation.
White-whale watchers facing fine
Whale watchers keen to get a glimpse of the albino humpback migrating north along the Queensland coast will have to keep their distance or risk being fined $12,000. Queensland Environment Minister Dean Wells has declared the mammal, which has sparked a high degree of interest since its reappearance, a "special interest whale."
New "Moby Dick"? Boat crasher a rare white whale
A 10-ton whale that leaped into a yacht near Australia seems to have survived the impact without major injury, authorities said, but the only known albino humpback faces a new threat, human stalkers.
Fate of Migaloo remains a mystery
Environmental officers will decide today whether to continue an aerial search for the rare albino humpback Migaloo after a yacht owner reported he had struck it off the north Queensland coast.
Search for albino whale
A transcript of a conversation with skipper David Snell, whose boat struck Migaloo back in mid-August.
"Moby Dick" stirs excitement in Australian waters
An extremely rare albino whale has been spotted off the Australian coast, prompting a call on Friday for whale-watchers, seafarers and even aircraft to look out for the real-life Moby Dick.
Underwater photographer denies harassing rare albino humpback whale
QUEENSLAND, Australia (July 11, 2003) – The Gold Coast man who swam with a rare albino whale yesterday says the close encounter was completely unintentional. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service is investigating the incident to determine if underwater cameraman Gery Philpot broke the law. It is investigating whether he approached the whale or if the whale swam to him and whether it happened in Queensland or New South Wales waters.
Hervey Bay a prime spot for hobnobbing with Humpbacks
An estimated 1500 to 1800 humpback whales migrate annually 5000km from Antarctic waters to the warmer tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef in June, where they mate and give birth. Between August and November, many of these whales are seen in Hervey Bay, where they rest before heading south again.
Whale-watch fears over scallop farm
Whale-watching tour operators have called for an immediate halt to a planned sea scallop ranch in Hervey Bay after the developers yesterday confirmed they would start operation in November. Hervey Bay whale-watch industry spokesman Peter Lynch said he was not opposed to a scallop ranch but wanted one of the two trial sites moved out of Platypus Bay on western Fraser Island.
Sshhh! The Whales are Courting Below
In his 1996 study of the impact of vessel noise on humpback whales in the whale-watching area of Hervey bay in Queensland, Mr McCauley found the speed of the vessel was the biggest influence on underwater noise likely to bother humpbacks. Some big catamarans were very noisy, particularly as their engines needed to constantly manoeuvre to stop drift while whale-watching.
Facts about Migaloo
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First sighting:
The all-white whale was first sighted along the eastern coast of Australia in June of 1991. It was subsequently seen every year from 1991 to 2000, except for one year.
Recent sightings:
After an absence of sightings for three years, the whale was sighted this summer on July 10, 2003, off Tweed Heads, on the border between New South Wales and Queensland.
On August 16, Migaloo was involved in a collision with a trimaran near the Australian town of Townsville. According to news reports, the operator of the vessel said that Migaloo surfaced just in front of his boat, lifting it and breaking off its center keel. The whale may have been injured.
Additional reports indicate the whale was sighted again on August 19, seven miles off Palm Island in Queensland. The whale appeared to be swimming normally.
The name "Migaloo":
After observing the white whale in 1992, Pacific Whale Foundation's Dr. Paul Forestell contacted a couple of local Aboriginal people -- one a tradesman and the other a teacher -- asking them whether an albino whale might have any significance in their culture, and whether they could suggest a name. The tradesman spoke with an aunt of his, a revered aboriginal elder, and she suggested the name 'Migaloo' - which means "white fellah."
"The teacher told me that she believed albinos (whether humans, kangaroos, or crocodiles) were considered by Aboriginals to be special beings, perhaps signs or tokens from the spirit world," recalls Dr. Forestell.
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Migaloo's migratory path:
Migaloo is a part of a population of humpback whales than feed in Antartica during the Austral summer/fall months (November - May). They migrate along the east coast of Australia, to breed in the warm tropical waters near the Great Barrier reef in the Austral winter/spring (June - October). Migaloo is part of the Southern Ocean Group V stock of humpback whales.
Other white humpback whales:
While the classic "Moby Dick" focused on a fictional all-white whale, Migaloo is the only known occurrence of an all-white humpback whale in the 20th century. This is based on records kept by whalers of the tens of thousands of humpback whales killed during the first half of the 20th century, and the observations by whale researchers during the second half of the century. Steven Spielberg is currently producing a movie about an all-white whale.
Value to science:
Because the whale is so visible and easily identified, Pacific Whale Foundation researchers have been able to gather a lot of data about its sightings - without the use of radio tags. This has helped researchers better understand the migratory pathways of humpback whales in the South Pacific.
For example, in 1992, there were nine reliable sightings of Migaloo, which made it possible for Pacific Whale Foundation to plot the whale's migratory movement along the east Australia coast during the northward migration to the breeding areas, as well as its southward migration at the end of the season to its feeding area.
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