{"id":42519,"date":"2024-10-09T13:14:01","date_gmt":"2024-10-09T11:14:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/54ca321f-0c27-4836-af10-18dfdb5e4e74"},"modified":"2024-10-09T14:27:30","modified_gmt":"2024-10-09T12:27:30","slug":"ghostly-moon-whale-filmed-in-tonga","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/ghostly-moon-whale-filmed-in-tonga\/","title":{"rendered":"Ghostly ‘moon’ whale filmed in Tonga"},"content":{"rendered":"

The baby humpback whale was filmed with her mother and an escort whale. Experts fear there may be challenges ahead… <\/p>

By Melissa Hobson\n <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 09 October 2024 at 11:14 AM<\/p>

\n\n

An underwater photographer has shared mesmerising\u00a0footage\u00a0of an all-white baby humpback whale<\/a> in Vava’u, Tonga. <\/strong><\/p>

The swimmers from Ocean Culture Life (OCL) who shared the water with this glowing youngster were blown away by her beauty but have concerns for her future.<\/p>

All-white whales are very rare\/Jono Allen, Matt Porteous, Ocean Culture Life<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cMeet the rarest little wonder of the ocean: a white humpback baby whale,\u201d says\u00a0Tamsin Raine<\/a>, co-founder of OCL. The all-white calf is called M\u00e3hina, meaning \u2018moon\u2019 in Tongan. <\/p>

She was first seen in August 2024 and is believed to have been born close to the islands of Vava\u2019u, Tonga.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cHer complexion is so illuminating and glowing white she appears like a bright full moon underwater,\u201d says tour guide and photographer\u00a0Jono Allen<\/a>.<\/p>

Watch: the white whale drifts beside her mother\/Jono Allen<\/figcaption><\/figure>

OCL\u2019s co-founder\u00a0Matt Porteus<\/a>\u00a0shares how Allen “gently danced in the ocean, mirroring the mother whale\u2019s movements, earning her trust.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cThe white colouration in whales is extremely rare and can be attributed to either albinism or leucism<\/a>,\u201d says\u00a0OCL<\/a>. Albino animals have no pigmentation while leucism causes partial pigmentation loss.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cM\u00e3hina does not have the red eyes often seen in albino individuals, but instead striking black eyes, it\u2019s currently unclear if she is an albino or leucistic, or otherwise,\u201d says Allen.\u00a0<\/p>

He worries that the youngster\u2019s bright colouring could attract unwanted attention from predators. \u201cWhile the mother is fiercely defending M\u00e3hina and the male escort is also doing a great job keeping her safe, her overwhelming glowing white complexion makes her very susceptible to predators,\u201d he says.\u00a0<\/p>

\"White
Experts think the white complexion may make M\u00e3hina more susceptible to predators\/Jono Allen, Matt Porteous, Ocean Culture Life<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Image credits: @MattPorteous<\/a> @JonoAllen<\/a> @OceanCultureLife.<\/a> This remarkable event was captured in Tongan waters onboard a permitted whale swimming charter<\/em><\/p>

More wild stories from around the world<\/strong><\/p>