Qld: White whale appears unharmed after boat strike
By Rosemary Desmond
BRISBANE, Aug 19 AAP - A rare white whale feared injured in a collision with a boatoff north Queensland has been found apparently unharmed, a wildlife officer said today.
The white male humpback was spotted by a fisherman in a dinghy off Palm Island earlythis morning.
He was later sighted again during an aerial search, said Queensland Parks and WildlifeService (QPWS) regional service director Clive Cook.
"At first glance he appears to be all right," Mr Cook said.
In fading light late this afternoon, a QPWS patrol boat was at the last reported positionof the whale, about 30km north-east of Townsville.
Wildlife officers aboard the patrol boat were taking photographs to ascertain if themammal was showing any signs of injury and if it was the humpback dubbed "Migaloo", Aboriginalfor "White Fella".
The albino whale was believed to be the only one of its kind in the world and had notbeen seen prior to its sighting last month.
On July 12, Queensland Environment Minister Dean Wells declared the white humpbacka "special interest whale".
This meant no-one could drive a boat or jet-ski closer than 500 metres or fly an aircraftcloser than 600 metres or they could face a fine of up to $12,375.
Migaloo had joined an estimated 5,000 other humpbacks on their yearly migration northalong the coast of eastern Australia.
Humpbacks are listed as a vulnerable species.
On Saturday, David Snell was sailing his trimaran Cirro off Magnetic Island when awhite whale breached near his vessel and then swam under the boat, breaking off a sectionof its drop-down rudder.
Mr Snell managed to sail the trimaran back to shore and report the incident, fearingthe mammal may have had a section of the broken rudder lodged in its back behind its dorsalfin.
Mr Cook said this now appeared unlikely, given the light construction of the rudder.
"I suspect the rudder has fallen off and he's got a bit of scarring but it's probablynot fatal," he said.
QPWS will resume the search for Migaloo tomorrow if photographs taken today fail toshow conclusive proof the whale was uninjured.
AAP rad/jnb g
KEYWORD: WHALE RPT
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