For the first time, scientists have discovered an adult white killer whale in the wild. It is noteworthy that this happened in the territorial waters of Russia off the coast of Kamchatka. The white male was nicknamed Iceberg.
White whales of various species were occasionally noted by scientists, but all previously known killer whales were young, including one born in a Canadian aquarium, which then died in 1972.
The killer whale was discovered during a research expedition in Kamchatka by a group of Russian scientists and students led by Erich Hoyt, a scientist, ecologist and author who has been studying killer whales for many years and is currently a senior research fellow at the Society for the Conservation of Whales and Dolphins.
The white killer whale has a two-meter dorsal fin, which means that it is at least 16 years old, but the fact that the fin is somewhat ragged suggests that it is even more than 16 years old. Killer whales become sexually mature at about 15 years of age, and males can live up to 50 or 60 years.
According to scientists, Iceberg is adopted by its relatives. The fact is that killer whales often stay with their mothers for life, and he was seen in a group of his own kind, and kept close to one of the individuals all the time.
The reason for its unusual pigmentation is not yet known. Scientists want to try a biopsy soon, but for now they will just keep close observation.
Promotional video: