Official confirmation came
yesterday from PROFEPA that the Albino whale recently spotted in Laguna Ojo del
Liebre is alive and well.
Speculations arose last weekend
with the stranding of a dead whale, just north of Todos Santos, that appeared
very pale in color. However, after examination PROFEPA have stated the light
colour of the whale was due to the advanced stage of decomposition and not due
to the genetic condition of Albinism.
The whale is believed to have
been dead for about 15 days when found. Sadly this meant that establishing the cause
of death or stranding was not possible. The whale was in fact an adult humpback about
14m in length.
But the good news is that the recently
spotted Albino has been caught on camera swimming around Wire Island with a
grey coloured calf.
The first time Albino mom has
earned the nickname “Gallon of milk” and is believed to have returned this year
to breed after not being seen since her birth in 2008.
Scientists from CONANP (National
Commission of Natural Protected Areas), who are responsible for conducting the annual
whale census, are hopeful that she will now return every 2-3 years to give
birth.
So far this season CONANP has
counted over two thousand grey whales in Laguna Ojo del Liebre, part of the world
famous Biosphere Reserve El Vizcaino. Of
these, just over 10000 are thought to have been calves born in Mexico. A
fantastic indicator of the growing health of a species that until very recently
was in danger of extinction.