Migaloo (the white humpback whale) Facts

Will you be lucky enough to see Migaloo this year? Here are some facts about this amazing whale.

Migaloo was first observed in June 1991.

He is believed to be a male, approximately 10m long and 17years old.

He was originally called “H2” and later “Lotus”.

Currently he is known as “Migaloo”, which is believed to be an aboriginal word meaning ‘white fella’.

Migaloo has not been proven to be albino, although a lot of media reports title him this.

Migaloo has been given “special status” in both NSW and Qld, with hefty fines imposed for breaching the approach zones for observing this animal.

In NSW, the approach distances are 500m for a vessel and 600 for jet ski and aircraft.

2007 Sightings:

• Monday  25 off North Stradbroke Island
• Tuesday June 26 off Heron Island
• Thursday June 28 Shoalwater Bay near Rockhampton
• July 24 off North Queensland
• August 5 Cape Tribulation
• August 28 Palm Island
• October 1 Byron Bay

2006 Sightings:

• Sunday June 25 at Coffs Harbour
• Wednesday July 5 off Cape Byron

2005’s sightings:

• 10^th June at 2.30pm off Cronulla
• 10^th June at 4pm off Sydney
• 11^th June at 12.40pm off Catherine Hill Bay
• 11^th June at 2.45pm off Red Head
• 13^th June in the morning off Port Macquarie
• 14^th June at 11am off Coffs Harbour
• 15^th June off the Gold Coast
• 16^th July off Gold Coast

 2004 sightings:

• Thursday June 17^th 2pm Cape Solander
• Thursday June 17^th 3.30pm Bronte Beach
• Friday June 18^th off the Central Coast (unconfirmed)
• Saturday June 19^th 4pm off Port Stephens Heads
• Tuesday 22^nd June 9.40am Cape Byron
• Tuesday 22^nd June 4pm Kingscliff
• Tuesday 22^nd June Tweed Heads
• Wednesday 23^rd June 8.30am Stradbroke Island

Noted previous Sightings:

13^th September 1992 Hervey Bay

10^th July 2003 Tweed Heads

11^th July 2003 Gold Coast

16^th August 2003 Townsville (believed to be involved with a collision with a boat)

19^th August 2003 Palm Island QLD

Thursday 16^th October 2003 Port Macquarie (heading South)

If you have seen or heard any reports of Migaloo please let us know by either contacting the ORRCA hotline on (02) 9415 3333 or by email at orrca@orrca.org.au