While Captain Ahab wasn香蕉视频直播檛 present, a whale-watching tour did happen to find a white whale close to Nanaimo during an excursion yesterday.

Vancouver Island Whale Watch posted photos on social media after coming across a white orca Tuesday, and Val Watson, a marine naturalist with the Nanaimo-based company on the mid-day tour, said it is not an everyday occurrence.

香蕉视频直播淔or the tour we saw humpbacks and on the way back, about five minutes outside of Nanaimo, we came across a pod of orca and within that pod of orca there was a white individual,香蕉视频直播� said Watson. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 very rare. The last time it was recorded in our population was about 10 years ago, so it香蕉视频直播檚 happened before, but it香蕉视频直播檚 very uncommon.香蕉视频直播�

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Watson said it香蕉视频直播檚 hard to determine whether it was an actual albino and the reasons why it was white, but genetics could be the reason for the orca香蕉视频直播檚 complexion.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a couple of thoughts to it,香蕉视频直播� said Watson. 香蕉视频直播淣othing香蕉视频直播檚 confirmed yet because it takes sampling, that we just don香蕉视频直播檛 have access to, so what people are suggesting to us is that it香蕉视频直播檚 Chediak-Higashi syndrome, which is a genetic condition that can cause albinism in mammals.香蕉视频直播�

As a white orca sighting doesn香蕉视频直播檛 happen often, Watson said the tour was abuzz.

香蕉视频直播淭here was a ton of excitement,香蕉视频直播� said Watson. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 really rare so it香蕉视频直播檚 really incredible to get to see it. We weren香蕉视频直播檛 really expecting to find something like that, so we were definitely excited.香蕉视频直播�

reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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