http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17783603

White killer whale adult spotted for first time in wild










By Richard Black
Environment correspondent, BBC News






"Iceberg" is believed to be the first mature white orca observed

Scientists have made what they believe to be the first sighting of an adult white orca, or killer whale.

The adult male, which they have nicknamed Iceberg, was spotted off the coast of Kamchatka in eastern Russia.

It appears to be healthy and leading a normal life in its pod.

White whales of various species are occasionally seen; but
the only known white orcas have been young, including one with a rare
genetic condition that died in a Canadian aquarium in 1972.

The sightings were made during a research cruise off
Kamchatka by a group of Russian scientists and students, co-led by Erich
Hoyt, the long-time orca scientist, conservationist and author who is
now a senior research fellow with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation
Society (WDCS).
























Footage apparently shows adult white orca. Courtesy of Far East Russia Orcas Project





"We've seen another two white orcas in Russia but they've been
young, whereas this is the first time we've seen a mature adult," he
told BBC News.

"It has the full two-metre-high dorsal fin of a mature male,
which means it's at least 16 years old - in fact the fin is somewhat
ragged, so it might be a bit older."

Orcas mature around the age of 15, and males can live to 50 or 60 years old, though 30 is more commonplace.

"Iceberg seems to be fully socialised; we know that these
fish-eating orcas stay with their mothers for life, and as far as we can
see he's right behind his mother with presumably his brothers next to
him," said Dr Hoyt.

The cause of his unusual pigmentation is not known. The
captive white orca, Chima, suffered from Chediak-Higashi syndrome, a
genetic condition that causes partial albinism as well as a number of
medical complications.

It is possible that an attempt may be made to take a biopsy
from Iceberg; but with researchers reluctant to do so unless there is a
compelling conservation reason, they are hoping instead for closer
observations including a detection of eye colour.

The project Dr Hoyt co-leads, the Far East Russia Orca Project,
has pioneered visual and acoustic monitoring in the inhospitable
Kamchatka seas, and has produced a number of papers on the communication
of killer whales.

This may lead to improved understanding of the animals'
complex social structure, which includes matrilineal family clans, pods
consisting of several families, and much larger "super-pods".

A related project aims to study and conserve habitat for all whales and dolphins around the Russian coast.

In recent years a white humpback whale nick-named Migaloo has
drawn intense interest in Australia, while the Arctic beluga is
naturally white.

The most famous white whale, though, is the fictional sperm
whale that drove Captain Ahab to his eventually fatal fury in Moby Dick.

nature, you so crazy.

Great article and a delight to know that there are still some living species on this planet that can go undetected for long periods of time, no matter how big or small.

This paragraph however, is worrying.

Quote :

It is possible that an attempt may be made to take a biopsy
from Iceberg; but with researchers reluctant to do so unless there is a
compelling conservation reason

Why can't they just leave things alone!