Watch: Potential albino pygmy killer whale spotted off Hawaii
This particular whale species known as Blackfish resides in Hawaii year round, but what divers saw on March 28 off Makaha was an extremely rare sighting, according to marine biologists.
'We noticed there was a white baby with them,' said Travis Woo, a safety diver on Iruka Hawaii Dolphin Snorkeling Tours. 'My initial reaction was euphoria.'
'It's one of four species that we call Blackfish — because they're all kind of black in color and hard to distinguish,' said Dr. Jessica Jacob, assistant professor at Hawaii Pacific University. 'Based on the shape of the fin and the white lips, I would say it's a pygmy killer whale.'
Experts said there has never been a sighting of a true albino whale of any species in Hawaii. There have been more common sightings of leucistic or lighter colored whales, however.
'It is potentially an albino individual, but there's really only two ways to confirm that. One is to do genetic sampling and look for that mutation that would cause a lack of pigmentation and lack of melanin production, which produces the color of individuals. Or, sometimes, you can examine the eyes of those individuals and the lack of color in their eyes makes them appear pink,' said Pacific Whale Foundation Chief Scientist Jens Currie.
The Cascadia Research Institute stated the calf is in pretty rough shape with major sunburns and blistering. Jacob said it's hard for albino whales to reach adulthood because they are easier prey for predators.
Maui dog makes an unlikely friend — a whale
'Usually these dolphins, they go and hunt … kind of far off shore and we don't see them that often, but we're seeing them hanging in closer to shore trying to guard this calf,' Woo said. 'So, they're sticking with it. We're all rooting for it and hopefully it makes it. It's unlikely, but it is possible.'
These whale species are protected and it is illegal to come within 100 feet of the animals, according to marine biologists.
'If they approach you, that's different. You know, if you're idling, but you're not allowed to approach them,' Jacob said.
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