In May 2023, a ‘white killer whale’ appeared in the Nemuro Strait after two years of absence.
White orca / killer whale at Shiretoko, Hokkaiado 白いシャチ
The contrasting color of black and white is a characteristic of killer whales. But this orca’s entire body is white, so the eyepatch and saddle patch are not visible unless you look closely.
After the first observation of two of them separately in the Nemuro Strait in 2019, two white killer whales swimming together made headlines in 2021. And after two years, this year (2023), one white killer whale was seen off Rausu Port.
According to a Japanese news website, he is a “mature male”, “nearly seven metres long by eye measurement”, “at least nearly 50 years old” and “most likely the same individual as the first white killer whale identified in Japan”.
It is not known whether it is an albino (Albinism), which cannot produce melanin due to a genetic abnormality, or a white variant (Leucism) due to mutation. It looks like a white variant because it does not have the characteristic red eyes of an albino and its body colour is greyish.
Pod of 13 killer whales. The colour white is said to be a disadvantage in the race for survival, as it is easily noticeable in nature, but this individual has been able to grow well.
All boats are busy with the rare appearance of ‘white Orca’.
The tip of the dorsal fin is bent slightly to the left.
Abrasions under the dorsal fin on the left side of the body.
White orca swim peacefully against the backdrop of the snow-capped mountains of the Shiretoko Peninsula. We look forward to seeing them back in Shiretoko next year!。
Photo & Video : Shohei MORITA（Shiretoko Serai） Text : Wataru YAMOTO
Observation : May 2023, Rausu – Nemuro Strait, Hokkaido
★Contact us to make arrangements for photographing Orcas of Shiretoko – Nemuro Strait from April to July.
★Wildlife videos are also available on Youtube – we have the playlist as well.
