White Orca Whale

[Kanti]

That's right a COMPLETELY white orca whale was spotted today near Russia.
It's beautiful!! I assume it's leucistic rather than albino since it's white rather
than a pale pinkish color. Also since it's a large male!

2560

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17783603

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/04/23/white-killer-whale-spotted-off-russian-coast-pictures_n_1445899.html

[New York Mermaid]

I know so much about this boy and albino cetaceans in general I love them their so interesting, (which is why I choose an albino male orca to be "Lanai's pet or sidekick), He first appeared in In 2009, in the Alaskan (http://mernetwork.com/wiki/Alaskan) Peninsula by a fishing vessel, then again in 2010 in the same year 2 albino females were spotted, I suppose since he's an older male probably about 19 or so and survived so long- they want to study him.

There is a well documented Albino female who was captured in 1970's named Chimo, Chimo died in 1972 from complications caused by Chediak-Higashi Syndrome (http://mernetwork.com/wiki/Chediak-Higashi_Syndrome), the syndrome which caused her albinism. Photos of her are here: www.orcahome.de/Chimo.htm
(http://www.orcahome.de/Chimo.htm)
And there is an all gray baby orca calf who was born in 2009 to transients near san juan island:
http://sanjuanupdate.com/2009/12/gray-orca-born-to-transients/

[Kanti]

Wow how cool! I honestly had never heard anything much about white orcas.
The gray one I think I had herd of once, but I'm not entirely sure.

Also Chimo is incredible! But it seems she still has some color at the front of her head? Maybe
it's a piebald rather than an albino?

Very cool stuff~ I hope we'll get some nicer shots of "Iceberg" soon :')
The report was iffy on whether or not to call him an albino. They wanted to check his eyes before
mentioning anything.

[New York Mermaid]

As for chimo I really dont know I guess she was considered a "full albino" at that time, But hell "Iceberg" seems more of a true albino. I vote for a name change to "Zeus" lol

well heres some photos of the handsome boy: http://www.russianorca.com/photo.php?lang=en&pg=0&gal=0

[Kanti]

I really need to read up on all these skin conditions xD
I did a quick read through of Leucism vs Albinism and I think he actually may be
an albino. The discoloration around his eyespot sort of shows that he has
SOME coloring to him. Usually Leucistic animals are only SOLID white.

xD Haha Zeus is a cute name
And whatever he is, he looks amazing! I love how you can still see his eyespot
It's really beautiful~

[New York Mermaid]

he has both Eyepatches and the saddle as well I also believe he has the outlines too, theres a photo you can clearly see his saddle i love that photo. He's like the ultimate orca drawing.