ハーマン・メルヴィルの小説「白鯨」に出てくるような真っ白いクジラが6月17日から、オーストラリア東部の海岸に姿を現している。研究者から「ミガルー」と名付けられたザトウクジラで、ホエールウォッチングの人々を楽しませている。現地のニュースサイトが報じた。
イマジン・クルーズの船はポート・スティーブンスで海面に飛び上がるミガルーの撮影に成功。Facebookに投稿している。
全身が真っ白なザトウクジラは世界的に見ても極めて珍しい。ミガルーが最初に目撃されたのは1991年で、28歳程度だろうと推定されている。ザトウクジラは毎年、南極沖からオーストラリア北東部のグレートバリアリーフ付近の繁殖地へと移動する。ミガルーもそうした移動の最中と見られている。
ミガルー画像集
Migaloo The White Whale Spotted Off Byron Bay(01 of07)
BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 28: An Australian white humpback whale named Migaloo is seen off the coast of Byron Bay, Australia\'s most easterly point, on September 28, 2009 in Byron Bay, Australia. Migaloo is the only documented white humpback whale in the world and has been named as such meaning \'White Fella\' in the Aborginal Australian language. The whale was first spotted in 1991. (Photo by Rob Dalton/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Migaloo The White Whale Spotted Off Byron Bay(02 of07)
BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 28: An Australian white humpback whale named Migaloo is seen off the coast of Byron Bay, Australia\'s most easterly point, on September 28, 2009 in Byron Bay, Australia. Migaloo is the only documented white humpback whale in the world and has been named as such meaning \'White Fella\' in the Aborginal Australian language. The whale was first spotted in 1991. (Photo by Rob Dalton/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Migaloo The White Whale Spotted Off Byron Bay(03 of07)
BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 28: An Australian white humpback whale named Migaloo is seen off the coast of Byron Bay, Australia\'s most easterly point, on September 28, 2009 in Byron Bay, Australia. Migaloo is the only documented white humpback whale in the world and has been named as such meaning \'White Fella\' in the Aborginal Australian language. The whale was first spotted in 1991. (Photo by Rob Dalton/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Migaloo The White Whale Spotted Off Byron Bay(04 of07)
BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 28: An Australian white humpback whale named Migaloo is seen off the coast of Byron Bay, Australia\'s most easterly point, on September 28, 2009 in Byron Bay, Australia. Migaloo is the only documented white humpback whale in the world and has been named as such meaning \'White Fella\' in the Aborginal Australian language. The whale was first spotted in 1991. (Photo by Rob Dalton/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Migaloo The White Whale Spotted Off Byron Bay(05 of07)
BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 28: An Australian white humpback whale named Migaloo is seen off the coast of Byron Bay, Australia\'s most easterly point, on September 28, 2009 in Byron Bay, Australia. Migaloo is the only documented white humpback whale in the world and has been named as such meaning \'White Fella\' in the Aborginal Australian language. The whale was first spotted in 1991. (Photo by Rob Dalton/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Migaloo The White Whale Spotted Off Byron Bay(06 of07)
BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 28: An Australian white humpback whale named Migaloo is seen off the coast of Byron Bay, Australia\'s most easterly point, on September 28, 2009 in Byron Bay, Australia. Migaloo is the only documented white humpback whale in the world and has been named as such meaning \'White Fella\' in the Aborginal Australian language. The whale was first spotted in 1991. (Photo by Rob Dalton/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Migaloo The White Whale Spotted Off Byron Bay(07 of07)
BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 28: An Australian white humpback whale named Migaloo is seen off the coast of Byron Bay, Australia\'s most easterly point, on September 28, 2009 in Byron Bay, Australia. Migaloo is the only documented white humpback whale in the world and has been named as such meaning \'White Fella\' in the Aborginal Australian language. The whale was first spotted in 1991. (Photo by Rob Dalton/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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