Migaloo, the Australian White Whale

© 2003 Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Migaloo, the White Humpback Whale

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© 1992 Pacific Whale Foundation

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.

Mr Philpot says he was keen to get images of the humpback as it frolicked off the Coolangatta-Tweed coast but he was not after close-ups.

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"I'm probably snorkelling down about five metres, just finning along and basically you can't see anything and all of a sudden it just looked like this huge massive white submarine. Stupid me, I was headed straight for it.

"Luckily the whale, he tilted his head and went basically underneath me. He just brushed me and I kept filming, not only was it was a bit frightening I suppose, but it really just happened within four seconds, then it was over," he said.

He says it was an experience he will never forget, but the whale approached him.

"Sound travels basically four times as fast underwater as on land so the sound is incredible. He's probably picked me up [on sonar] and said who's this and he's probably come in for a closer look."

Queensland's Environment Minister Dean Wells has issued a stern reminder that fines will be slapped on anyone caught within 100 metres of the giant sea mammals.

"It's not fair for somebody to try and approach so closely to a whale just so they can have what they describe as a mystical experience. They need to consider what this might mean for these creatures whose numbers are increasing at the moment and whose attitude of trust and friendliness to us is a direct result of the fact that we have rules that say stay at a reasonable and safe distance from them."

Whale conservationists say the whale, called H2, has been the subject of an identity crisis in recent years.

President of the Australian Whale Conservation Society, Paul Hodda, says H2 was first seen in 1991 and since then, there have been a number of false sightings.

Mr Hodda says there has also been doubt over whether the majestic giant is a true albino.

"From the photographs we've seen it hasn't scarred which indicates it's not white in colour, it indicates it's actually non-pigmented which would indicate it's an albino," he said.

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