Photos taken off the Azores in recent days show that a white humpback whale mother and calf may be among the marine wildlife species’ annual migration to the North Atlantic.
And that means whale watchers in Ireland may have a chance to see this rare occurrence this summer, if we’re lucky.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) said on social media: “They were traveling northwest along the coastline of the island, but she was not certain whether they were heading south or north.
“In that case, we ask all whale watchers to keep their eyes (scopes, cameras) open for them.”
According to Whale Watch Azores, the adult albino humpback seems to be a well-travelled animal, matching a sighting 10 years ago off Svalbard in the far north of Norway – and may also be the same white whale that’s been spotted off Guadeloupe in the Caribbean.
Watch out for this animal in Ireland!
— Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (@IWDGnews) April 17, 2022
Instead of a white Easter bunny, Lisa Steiner of Whale Watch Azores shared some amazing photos of a leucistic adult humpback whale with her 95% albino juvenile calf spotted last Saturday north of Faial, Azores. pic.twitter.com/k8TJqGSjCd