Captured in the tropical waters of Vava’u Tonga in 2024, this incredibly rare white humpback Mãhina is the first pure white humpback whale observed in Tonga in recorded history. Mãhina, meaning moon in Tongan, was the name given to this calf due to her luminescent appearance underwater which is as rare as it is breathtaking, as wherever she moves she illuminates the water into a bright electric blue.
Only an estimated 1 in 40,000 humpbacks have this striking lack of pigmentation causing bright white skin which seems to glow underwater in contrast with deep ocean blues.
Watching this spectacular and curious moon white whale calf play and roll through the water represents the remarkable success story of a species given the chance to recover after being heavily targeted by whaling and once being brought to the brink of extinction. Considering the resilience of this awe-inspiring species, sightings of such rare individuals renews hope in what can happen when conservation is championed and wildlife is allowed to thrive.
