Rarely Seen White Killer Whale Discovered in California
California whale-watching tour companies have made a remarkable discovery—a pod of killer whales, including a white killer whale, believed to be the result of a rare genetic condition.
In a video captured by Newport Coastal Adventures, a company specializing in whale-watching tours, a white killer whale was seen swimming alongside six other killer whales in Newport Harbor, California, as reported by The Guardian on April 26.
The first company to witness this spectacle was Long Beach, which then reported it to other organizations.
“A few hours after receiving the notification, we arranged three boats for this special trip,” said Newport Coastal Adventures. The company documented this rare sighting on April 24.
The whale has a completely white body, except for its dorsal fin and gray head. The tour company has named it “Frosty” due to its unusual bright skin, believed to be the result of a rare genetic condition.
Experts state that certain genetic conditions, such as albinism or leucism, can result in lighter pigmentation in some animal species, including killer whales.
According to Newsweek, the Dolphin and Whale Conservation Society confirms that these white killer whales are not isolated from their pods, contrary to what many might think.
The society revealed that this pod of killer whales, including “Frosty,” has been spotted in southern Mexico and northern Canada in the past.
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