THIS is the moment an incredibly rare white killer whale was spotted gliding through the ocean – delighting a wildlife photographer.
Scientists say the animal has a “glowing mutation”, which creates the striking white appearance, and is one of just a handful worldwide.
Photographer Noriyuki Hayakawa had the magical encounter off the coast of Japan’s volcanic island Hokkaido.
The majestic creature can be seen swimming in a pod of at least five ordinary orcas.
It repeatedly swoops up out of the water before crashing back down into the ocean.
And the ghostly appearance means it really stands out amongst its pals.
Patches of colour forming the typical orca patterning can still be made out, but the skin that is usually a glossy black is instead virtually white.
What are albino whales?
While majestic to observe, albino whales are incredibly rare.
Although easy to spot if swimming with the rest of a pod, the chances of spotting one are exceptionally slim.
Their distinctive white colour is what sets them apart from the rest of their species.
According to Erich Hoyt, a research fellow at Whale and Dolphin Conservation in the UK, less than 1 out of every 10,000 humpback whales are expected to be impacted by this phenomenon, as he shared with Sky News.
Hayakawa, 64, a freelance photographer based in Sapporo, has spent the past 15 years documenting the orca population around Japan.
But nothing prepared him for unique experience on a tourist boat in the frigid northern waters.
Hayakawa said: “My legs were shaking with excitement.
“It was the first time in my life I’d seen a white orca.
“I was desperate to get a shot, they swim fast and only surface for a moment.”
The white orca was first spotted by another nearby tourist vessel, which radioed Hayakawa’s boat and encouraged them to approach.
The sighting was entirely unexpected, as Hayakawa hadn’t set out that day specifically looking for the rare creature.
A small group of three white orcas is known to have popped up in the region.
Scientists still don’t fully understand which condition causes the colouring – but believe the animal is is either an albino or leucistic orca.
This marks the first time Hayakawa personally encountered one.
He said: “This photo means so much to me.
“I’ve spent over a decade photographing orcas and this is the first white one I’ve ever seen.
“I hope as many people as possible get to see it and appreciate how rare and beautiful these animals are.“
He added: “I received a lot of comments saying it’s fake, that it was made with AI or edited.
“But it’s real. I was there.”
