Wildlife officials in Australia have set up an escort for the rare white humpback Migaloo, who is heading up the coast to the Great Barrier Reef to mate. They warned the crowd of onlookers against disturbing the animal.
Image: Getty Images/R.Dalton
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All boats needed to stay at least 500 meters (547 yards) from Migaloo, Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles said on Thursday.
The white humpback is under state protection, granting him a perimeter five times wider than that of a normal whale.
"Anyone breaking these rules and harassing the whales should be ashamed of themselves," he said in a statement. "Stop and think about how you would feel if you were responsible for hurting one of the few white whales in the world."
Officials made the announcement after media reported helicopters, boats, and drones coming out to spot Migaloo off Australia's Gold Coast the day before.
'Safe passage'
The fine for getting too close to a whale can vary between several hundred and several thousands of dollars.
The rules are in place to "protect the whales and give them safe passage during their migration along the Queensland coast," according to Miles.
Migaloo was previously spotted off Byron Bay earlier this week.
"I cried. I screamed 'You gorgeous whale, thank you for being here for us today,'" Alison Reid, who saw the animal on a whale watching cruise, told national radio on Tuesday. "It was just an incredible sight, it was so unreal."
Children's hero
The albino animal was first spotted in the same area in 1991, and has since become a symbol of preservation for environmental activists. He was later sighted by scientists, who asked the elders of an Aboriginal village to name him. The name Migaloo means "white fella." Samples of his skin and his singing voice confirmed he was a male, and researchers believe he is about 30 years old. He is one of the two known completely white humpbacks in the world.
Migaloo collided with a boat in 2003, leaving scars on his back, according to one of the websites dedicated to him, migalo.com.au. He is also the topic of an Australian children's book.
The humpback population in east Australia is estimated to over 15,000 specimens, recovering from the brink of extinction after a whaling ban in the 1960s. They grow to be between 12 to 15 meters long and can weigh up to 40 tons. They eat between 1,000 and 1,500 kg of plankton, krill and small fish every day.
Time running out to save the world's coral reefs
What happens when coral gets stressed? Global warming and environmental changes can cause corals to lose their color, and hinder their ability to feed and reproduce. Scientists and policy makers are sounding alarm bells.
Image: imago/OceanPhoto
Trouble in paradise
Some 2,500 scientists, policymakers and managers came together in Honolulu in June 2016 for the world's largest summit dedicated to the future of coral reefs. With coral reefs threatened by global warming, participants at the 13th International Coral Reef Symposium are calling for a joint rescue effort.
Image: picture alliance/WILDLIFE
World is watching
The event gathered guests from 97 countries, including the presidents of Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands. Coral reefs are a key source of income in those countries, mostly through tourism.
Image: picture alliance/WILDLIFE
Too warm for comfort
The Pacific nations are worried about the future of their tourist hotspots, as coral reefs face so-called "bleaching" due to rising sea temperatures. "If our coral reefs are further degraded, then our reef-dependent communities will suffer and be displaced," leaders of Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands said in an open letter.
Image: imago/OceanPhoto
Corals in crisis
Bleaching happens when coral is stressed by hot ocean waters or other changes in the environment. In response, corals may release tiny symbiotic algae which drains them of color. More importantly, bleaching affects their ability to feed and reproduce.
Image: Imago
Pale as death
Severe or prolonged bleaching might kill off corals entirely. Scientists have detected bleached coral in the past two years in oceans around the world. They expect the process to continue thought 2016.
Image: imago/blickwinkel
Giant from Down Under
The 2,300-kilometer-long (1,429-mile-long) Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system and its largest living structure. It is also among Australia's main tourist attractions, generating around $3.9 billion (3.5 billion euros) annually.
Image: Imago/ZUMA Press
Tough times for the Great Barrier Reef
Almost one-half of the coral in the reef's northern third have died in the past three months [in 2016], according to James Cook University professor Terry Hughes. The most affected area is remote and unpolluted, with very little fishing and no coastal development. "That's an absolute catastrophe," Hughes said. "There's nowhere to hide from climate change."
Image: Dorothea Bender-Champ for ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
Fighting for hope
Despite the bad news, scientists claim the problems can be managed with proper funding and political backing. "We are not ready to write the obituary for coral reefs," Professor Hughes said. The scientific community at the conference pledged to work with leaders across the world in order to "curb the continued loss of coral reefs."
