Rare Sighting of "Creamy White Killer Whale" Leaves Veteran Photographer in Awe: First Time in 15 Years

Japanese nature photographer Noriyuki Hayakawa has been capturing images of wild orcas in the Shiretoko Peninsula of Hokkaido since 2009, accumulating 16 years of experience. Last summer, while photographing in Rausu, Hokkaido, Hayakawa encountered a lively group of orcas on the azure waters. Remarkably, two extremely rare white orcas were spotted swimming together.

Hayakawa is renowned for his long-standing work in capturing Hokkaido's natural landscapes and wildlife, including brown bears, foxes, owls, and squirrels. His photographs often highlight the endearing qualities of these animals, making them poster-worthy. However, his true forte lies in marine photography.

In June 2024, Hayakawa experienced a highlight of his 15-year photography career. On a sightseeing boat in Rausu, he encountered a large group of orcas swimming at a speed of about 36 km/h. Among the approximately 30 orcas, he was surprised to find a male and a female orca with a creamy golden glow. This was his first encounter with white orcas in Rausu after 15 years of photographing them.

The white coloration of these orcas is likely due to leucism rather than albinism. Leucism results from defects in pigment cells, causing pale skin, fur, or feathers, but typically leaves the eye color unaffected, unlike albinism, which results in pink eyes due to a complete lack of melanin. Wild animals with leucism are rare and may be more vulnerable to predators, but these white orcas seem to have integrated well into their group.

2024.6.17 14:46
北海道羅臼沖で白いシャチに遭遇しました。2021年に目撃された2頭の白いシャチと同じ個体かもしれません。
発見したのは『観光船はまなす』と思われます。私が乗っていたのは『知床ネイチャークルーズ… pic.twitter.com/Fm5AisJFJ3

— 知床ドリーム (@hayakawa0622) June 17, 2024