Rare Albino Whale Captured On Video Swimming Off Coast of Mexico

Paula Liu
By Paula Liu
April 4, 2019World News
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Rare Albino Whale Captured On Video Swimming Off Coast of Mexico
Side view of a gray whale. (Dr. Steven Swartz/NOAA/NMFS/OPR)

The whale-watching community was gifted an unexpected surprise when an albino whale was spotted swimming off the Coast of Mexico, according to Daily Mail.

Manuel Gonzalez, 35, who was a scuba diving instructor and now runs whale-watching tours, was out with his friends on his boat in Magdalena Bay when they spotted the rare whale in the water.

“At first, we thought it could be a gray whitish gray whale, but in this case, it was a 100 percent albinism,” Gonzalez said, according to the media outlet. “When I saw this whale I couldn’t believe that my dream was coming true.”

Ballena albina por primera vez ????????.Nunca pensé que tuviera la oportunidad de ver una ballena albina. Para más información para venir a buscar a esta ballenita. INBOX!!.I never though I could have the Chance to see this albino gray whale. Thank you beautiful huge creature !????.Contact us trough a DM for an expedition to look for this whale again. .#whale #grayhale #albino #albinowhale #ocean #bajacaliforniasur #ilovetheocean #ilovewhales #savethedolphins .

Posted by Manuel Gonzalez on Sunday, March 3, 2019

Gonzalez said he had only seen albino animals in pictures, documentaries, and science articles, but never in real life. He had always wanted to witness the creatures in person one day.

A video of the whale was posted on Facebook by Gonzalez, where he talked about the rare sighting. In the video, the whale swam close to the surface of the water and blew water out of its blowhole.

“I never [thought] I could have the chance to see this albino gray whale. Thank you beautiful huge creature,” Gonzalez wrote in the caption. “Contact us [through] a DM for an expedition to look for this whale again.”

Albino grey whale what an amazing sight. I love all the surprises Baja has in store. Thanks Manuel Gonzalez for the trip.

Posted by Catherine Glashier on Tuesday, March 5, 2019

A woman, who was a part of the whale-watching tour, also posted a picture of the whale on Facebook and wrote, “Albino gray whale what an amazing sight. I love all the surprises Baja has in store. Thanks Manuel Gonzalez for the trip.”

This time of the year is whale-watching season in Mexico, when whales are commonly seen swimming freely along the Baja California coast. With local laws preventing any fishing activity near whales, the majestic creatures are able to cruise by without contending with local fishermen.

“That helps the ocean for some months,” Gonzalez told Daily Mail, regarding the fishing restrictions during whale season. “Less fishing means more live fish swimming in the oceans.”

Gonzalez told the Daily Mail said that instead of fishing in winter, many businesses choose to switch to offering whale-watching tours, as the mammals are very likely to appear in the area.

For Gonzalez, he enjoys the business of taking tourists out to sea on whale-watching excursions. Similarly, he enjoys taking his friends out on these tours when he isn’t working.

“I really enjoy my job,” he told Daily Mail, “so I look for any excuse to go there.”

Gonzalez said that every time he goes on these tours, he learns new things, whether it be about the whales themselves or something else related.

“Every time I go to see whales is incredible and every day I learn something new about them,” he said.

There is speculation that the albino whale spotted by Gonzalez is the same one that has been spotted in the area twice before. The first recorded sighting of the albino whale was by the Mexican authorities in 2008, who nicknamed the whale “Gallon of Milk” or “Galón de Leche” because of its color.

In 2017, the whale was believed to be sighted a second time accompanied by a calf. The calf was nicknamed “Constalito de Sal,” or “little sack of salt.”

Gonzalez was not able to confirm whether the whale he spotted this time was “Gallon of Milk.”

Gray whales aren’t the only species reported to have albino individuals. According to IFL Science, a male albino humpback whale has been spotted in Botany Bay in Sydney, Australia. Locals there named the humpback whale Migaloo. Migaloo is the Aboriginal word for a white person.

Later in 2011, a baby albino humpback whale was spotted in the area, which locals named Migaloo Junior, although it wasn’t clear whether Migaloo was the calf’s father.

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