Fate of Migaloo remains a mystery
by Nathan Scholz, Townsville bureau
August 19, 2003
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.
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has urged boaties to be on the lookout for Migaloo and other whales because an increasing whale population meant there was more chance of collisions.
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 The owner of the 10m trimaran told the QPWS he had struck a whale on Saturday morning northeast of Magnetic Island, off Townsville. The boat was damaged and QPWS regional service director Clive Cook said some of its rudder could be embedded in the whale's right dorsal, behind its hump.
The QPWS has described reports that the whale was Migaloo as unconfirmed. But The Courier-Mail has learnt the boat owner was adamant it was the 14m-long white humpback, first sighted off Cape Byron in 1991. He told the wildlife service the humpback surfaced metres in front of his boat and there was little he could do to avoid it.
It was the second vessel-damaging impact with whales this month. Migaloo, meaning "white fella", is believed to be the only albino whale in the world. An aerial search yesterday found no trace of the whale. The Environmental Protection Agency said this was a good sign because it meant the whale was not badly hurt.
Migaloo has been declared a "special interest whale", and boats and jet skis will be fined if they approach within 500m, or aircraft 600m.
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 Media contacts:
Working on an article or story about Migaloo? To arrange for interviews and photos, please contact:
Anne Rillero, Publicist, Pacific Whale Foundation at 808-249-8811 or 808-244-8390.
Or email: publicrelations@pacificwhale.org
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