In an era where biodiversity is increasingly threatened, nature continues to give us extraordinary shows.
This is what happened in the waters of Tonga, a small island state in the South Pacific Ocean, where a group of swimmers experienced an extraordinary encounter with one of the rarest animals in the world: a white humpback calf, nicknamed Mãhina, which means “moon” in the Tongan language.
This sighting, considered by many experts to be a true rarity, immediately attracted the attention of marine biologists and cetacean enthusiasts from all over the world. But who is Mãhina and why did her sighting generate so much emotion?
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are known for their imposing size, their out-of-water acrobatics and the distinctive songs they emit. Normally, these giants of the oceans have a dark color, with some white shades especially on the lower part of the body and fins. But Mãhina is different: her skin is completely white, a phenomenon visible only in very few whale specimens.
a genetic condition that causes a partial loss of pigmentation. Jono Allenan Australian underwater photographer, environmental scientist and marine megafauna guide who had the privilege of observing the little whale, shared on Instagram: “Mãhina does not have the red eyes typical of albinos, but has black eyes. At the moment we don’t know if she is albino or leucistic, but her white skin lights up the water an electric fluorescent blue every time she surfaces. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
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Also Matt Porteousnature photographer and team member of Ocean Culture Liferecounted the incredible meeting with Mãhina in a post on Instagram, describing it as one of the most emotional moments of his life. “In the turquoise waters of Tonga we experienced one of the rarest and most breathtaking ocean moments our planet has to offer: swimming with Mãhina, a white humpback whale,” Porteous wrote. “His luminous body moved gracefully in the deep blue, protected by his mother, like an angel of the oceans, a living legend unfolding before our eyes“.
Porteous explained that before approaching, the group’s guide, Jono Allen, he established a bond of trust with Mãhina’s mother. “Jono imitated his mother’s ocean dance movements, earning her trust. Only then did the mother allow the cub to come closer to us.” This silent and respectful interaction it gave the swimmers an almost spiritual experienceas part of a ancient ritual of understanding between man and animal.
The fragility of Mãhina’s life
Despite Mãhina’s incredible beauty, her white skin not only makes her visible to predators, but also increases the risk of damage from sun exposure. “Mãhina is incredibly beautiful, but I am worried about her survival,” said Jono Allen. “Fortunately, the mother and male escort are extremely protective. They seem aware of the puppy’s uniqueness and the growing attention it is receiving.”
Many white whales do not survive long due to their inability to blend in with their surroundings. However, as Allen pointed out, humpback whales live in cohesive and protective social groups, which could affect baby Luna’s chances of survival.
A symbol for ocean conservation
The meeting with Mãhina deeply moved the swimmers, underlining once again the need to preserve these precious moments and protect marine species. “Respect is the first step in connecting with these majestic creatures,” Porteous said. “The ocean is a fragile world and encounters like this are precious gifts. We must protect the future of our blue planet.”
“Words truly cannot express the gratitude I feel for having met this rare mystical individual, a true spirit of the ocean“Allen wrote.
Not far from Tonga, in Australia, humpback whales were among the species at risk of extinction, due to commercial hunting, but since 2022, thanks to the protection policies adopted by Canberra, humpback whales have been eliminated from the list which certified their strong vulnerability. There are around 40 thousand of them in Australian waters (at the peak of commercial hunting there were 1500 left), a number that demonstrates the effectiveness of the measures adopted over the last 60 years.
This is an important milestone which, however, should not push us to lower our guard level. The greatest threat to these cetaceans is global warmingwhich destroys their ecosystem and compromises their livelihood.
