Long-time Migaloo-watcher David Lloyd, of Lismore’s Southern Cross University Whale Research Centre, has said the white whale is "the one we look for every year’’.
"It’s almost become a competition between whale researchers to see who’s the first to spot it,’’ he said.
In August 2003, Migaloo survived a scrape with a yacht near Magnetic Island off Townsville.
The collision holed the trimaran and tore off the boat’s drop-down rudder, which was feared to have lodged in mammal’s back. But Migaloo was soon seen swimming freely in the waters between Magnetic Island and Palm Island, just north of where the incident happened.
A subsequent examination of Migaloo by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service officers revealed only a slight wound, confirming the white whale had taken the collision in its stride.
It wasn’t until 2004 that Migaloo’s sex was confirmed - genetic tests on skins which peeled off the albino humpback showed beyond doubt he was male.
Fears Migaloo could be targeted by international hunters sparked a wave of protests across Australia in 2005, with then federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell claiming the whale "could well be harpooned’’ that season.
Far north Queenslanders and visitors were later warned to keep their distance from Migaloo, or face fines of more than $12,000.
The latest sighting comes as the annual northern migration of the east coast humpbacks hits full swing, with up to 100 whales swimming past Point Lookout each day.
University of Queensland whale researcher Mike Noad said the local whale population was recovering after years of over-exploitation.
"This population of whales is the fastest-growing whale population in the world we know of,’’ Dr Noad said.
It is believed there are now 10,000 whales using the east coast migration route from Antarctica as far north as Torres Strait.
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