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.
Affectionately know as Migaloo, an Aboriginal word meaning white or white fella, the whale was first sighted off the Queensland coast in 1991. It is one of around 4,000 humpback whales which travel along the east coast from June to November annually.
Migaloo was sighted off Sydney's premier whale watching lookout at Cape Solander in Botany Bay National Park late this morning. It is believed to be the same whale seen off Fraser Island last year and which was injured by a passing boat near Townsville several years ago.
NSW Environment Minister Bob Debus today said the government was moving to increase protection for the rare whale while in NSW waters.
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New measures will made it an offence to bring a boat or jet ski closer than 500m to the white whale, and aircraft no closer than
600m.
Currently whales cannot be approached closer than 100m and mothers with calves no closer than 200m. Boats within a 300m zone can only move at a slow speed, no faster than the whale itself. Planes must remain 300m above the whale and helicopters 400m.
Mr Debus said volunteers had counted more than 400 humpback whales along Sydney's coastline so far this season.
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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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