Incredibly rare white killer whale spotted off Southern California coast

Will Conybeare
·2 min read
7

Whale watchers in Southern California were in for a treat on Tuesday, as they were able to witness a very rare sight: a white killer whale.

A news release from Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari explained that excitement is already high due to all the orca sightings along the SoCal coast over the past few months, but the sight of the white orca, nicknamed “Frosty,” in the waters near Dana Point was thrilling to see for both passengers and crew members alike.

Frosty had been previously spotted near Monterey last October, USA Today reported.

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According to Captain Dave’s, it is believed that Frosty is leucistic or has Chediak-Higashi Syndrome, both of which involve genetic mutations that impact melanin production. Those with the Chediak-Higashi Syndrome – including humans – can experience albinism, recurring infections and nerve damage, experts said.

“Frosty’s white appearance seems to have little effect on his life in the pod and as an apex predator, killer whales won’t experience the same challenges a prey animal with a white body would,” the Captain Dave’s media release said. “So, besides any extant genetic challenges, his life will likely be that of a normal killer whale among the pod.”

Frosty, who was first documented by whale watchers in 2019, belongs to a larger pod of Bigg’s killer whales that make their way up and down the West Coast between Mexico and Canada, Captain Dave’s said.

Bigg’s killer whales, also known as “transient” orcas due to their nomadic nature, are under review by the Taxonomy Committee of the Society of Marine Mammalogy to determine if they classify as a new species.

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Experts say that witnessing killer whales in Southern California is rare in and of itself, but the fact that SoCal whale watchers have seen two different pods within the same year is remarkable, and since their appearance, public curiosity surrounding the majestic sea creatures has grown considerably.

“This year has been extraordinary for whale watchers and operators in the area, as several extended visits early on in the year from a pod of Eastern Tropical Pacific killer whales were joined and enhanced by this most recent encounter with transient killer whales,” the Captain Dave’s media release stated.

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