A scene from a documentary: an albino humpback whale calf swimming next to her mother in the waters of New South Wales, Australia. Its name is Siale, which in the Tonga language means “white jasmine”. Born in 2024, this small whale with a white coat has captured the attention of biologists and marine wildlife enthusiasts from all over the world.
Its sighting, which occurred on November 5, 2025, was confirmed by the experts of the ORRCA organization and the international Happywhale database, thanks to a video created by the charter Whale Discoveries. The images show Siale playing carefree next to her mother, in a rare show of marine grace and harmony.
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An heir of Migaloo, the legendary white whale
Before Siale, the only known albino humpback whale was Migaloo, first sighted in 1991 along the Australian east coast. However, traces of him have been lost since 2018 and his disappearance today makes Siale the only albino specimen known in the world.
Albinism in humpback whales is an extremely rare phenomenon, with an estimated probability of 1 case in 40,000 births. Unlike leucism – a condition that reduces pigmentation but does not eliminate it entirely – albinism involves the total absence of melanin, the pigment that colors the skin and eyes. This is why Siale shows not only an entirely white body, but also reddish eyes, an unmistakable sign of his genetic uniqueness.
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An example that must be protected
To ensure the safety of Siale and his family, Australian authorities have established a 500-metre exclusion zone around their migratory route, banning the passage of boats and jet skis. The aim is to minimize the risk of collisions and stress for the animals, already threatened by maritime traffic and underwater noise. The beauty of the ocean and the hope that man will learn to truly protect it are now reflected in the whiteness of Siale.
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