By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
What's The JamWhat's The Jam
  • Home
  • Latest News
    • UK News
    • World News
  • Super ViralHot
  • Lifestyle
    • Health and Fitness
    • Photography
    • Property
  • Humor
  • Celebrity
  • Weird
  • Videos
  • All Topics
    • Babies and Kids
    • Celebrity
    • Comedy and Humor
    • Documentary and Reportage
    • Fails
    • Health and Fitness
    • Holidays and Travel
    • Influencers and Models
    • Latest Videos
    • Life Hacks
    • Lifestyle
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Pets and Animals
    • Photography
    • Property
    • Real Life
    • Sport
    • Strange and Bizarre
    • Super Viral
    • UK News
    • World News
Search
  • Health and Fitness
  • Holidays and Travel
  • Nature and Wildlife
  • Pets and Animals
  • Photography
  • Babies and Kids
  • Comedy and Humor
  • Fails
  • Real Life
  • Strange and Bizarre
  • Submit News
  • Customize Interests
  • Bookmarks
  • Newsletter
  • Who Are We
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact
© 2023 What's The Jam. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Rare albino killer whale spotted in sea
Share
Notification Show More
Aa
What's The JamWhat's The Jam
Aa
  • News
  • World
  • Viral
  • Funny
  • Weird
  • Celebrity
  • DIY
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Videos
Search
  • Home
    • News
    • World
    • Super Viral
    • Videos
  • All Topics
    • Babies and Kids
    • Celebrity
    • Comedy and Humor
    • Documentary and Reportage
    • Fails
    • Health and Fitness
    • Holidays and Travel
    • Influencers and Models
    • Life Hacks
    • Lifestyle
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Pets and Animals
    • Photography
    • Property
    • Real Life
    • Sport
    • Strange and Bizarre
  • Quick Links
    • Customize Interests
    • Bookmarks
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of use
    • Write For Us
    • Advertise
    • Contact
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact
© 2023 What's The Jam. All Rights Reserved.
A rare white killer whale was spotted off Japan’s Hokkaido island as photographer Noriyuki Hayakawa captured the stunning moment during a tourist boat trip.
Nature and Wildlife

Rare albino killer whale spotted in sea

News Room
Last updated: 2025/04/28 at 10:39 AM
News Room
Share
3 Min Read
The rare albino killer whale swimming in a pod with other normal black and white orcas. (Jam Press/Splitpics/Noriyuki Hayakawa)
SHARE

A rare white killer whale has been spotted in the sea.

The albino orca was swimming in a pod of normal coloured whales.

Photographer Noriyuki Hayakawa captured the encounter off Japan’s volcanic island Hokkaido.

READ MORE: Moves to return lynx to British countryside brought forward with creation of new semi wild habitat

- Advertisement -

Hayakawa, 64, a freelance photographer based in Sapporo, has spent the past 15 years documenting the orca population around Japan.

A rare white killer whale was spotted off Japan’s Hokkaido island as photographer Noriyuki Hayakawa captured the stunning moment during a tourist boat trip.
The rare albino killer whale swimming in a pod with other normal black and white orcas. (Jam Press/Splitpics/Noriyuki Hayakawa)

But nothing prepared him for what he experienced that day on a tourist boat in the frigid northern waters.

“My legs were shaking with excitement,” Hayakawa recalled.

“It was the first time in my life I’d seen a white orca.

“I was desperate to get a shot, they swim fast and only surface for a moment.”

- Advertisement -

The white orca was spotted by another nearby tourist vessel, which radioed Hayakawa’s boat and allowed them to approach, as reported by What’s The Jam.

A rare white killer whale was spotted off Japan’s Hokkaido island as photographer Noriyuki Hayakawa captured the stunning moment during a tourist boat trip.
The rare albino killer whale swimming in a pod with other normal black and white orcas. (Jam Press/Splitpics/Noriyuki Hayakawa)

The sighting was entirely unexpected, as Hayakawa hadn’t set out that day specifically looking for the rare creature.

The albino or leucistic orca – scientists are still unsure which condition affects these rare whales – is part of a small group of just three white orcas known to have appeared in the region.

- Advertisement -
A rare white killer whale was spotted off Japan’s Hokkaido island as photographer Noriyuki Hayakawa captured the stunning moment during a tourist boat trip.
The rare albino killer whale swimming in a pod with other normal black and white orcas. (Jam Press/Splitpics/Noriyuki Hayakawa)

This marks the first time Hayakawa personally encountered one.

“This photo means so much to me,” Hayakawa said.

“I’ve spent over a decade photographing orcas and this is the first white one I’ve ever seen.

(Jam Press/Splitpics/Noriyuki Hayakawa)

“I hope as many people as possible get to see it and appreciate how rare and beautiful these animals are.

“I received a lot of comments saying it’s fake, that it was made with AI or edited,” Hayakawa added.

“But it’s real.

“I was there.”

READ MORE: Photographer captures incredible shots of ‘headless penguins’ – and compares them to hairy chicken nuggets

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • X

Have a story to tell? Hello@whatsthejam.com
TAGGED: animals, Japan, Nature, news, shocking, Video

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
[mc4wp_form]
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Previous Article A mini ‘volcano’ mysteriously appeared in a Mexican avocado orchard, boiling water on contact and sparking a geological investigation near the historic Parícutin eruption site. Mini ‘volcano’ erupts in avocado orchard
Next Article A beaver was caught farting on a wildlife camera at Helman Tor Nature Reserve in Cornwall as part of natural scent marking behaviour during efforts to boost beaver numbers. Beaver caught farting on wildlife camera
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

235.3k Followers Like
69.1k Followers Follow
11.6k Followers Pin
56.4k Followers Follow
136k Subscribers Subscribe
4.4k Followers Follow
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Latest News

A dog named Triton stunned his owner by leaping from a boat to swim alongside a wild dolphin off the Devon coast with the pair gliding through the ocean together.
Owner shocked as dog leaps into ocean and begins swimming with DOLPHIN on UK coast
Pets and Animals 3 October 2025
Six cheese named Spaniel Poodle puppies Stilton Halloumi Cheddar Camembert Mozzarella and Parmesan have found new homes after the RSPCA received over 1600 adoption applications.
Six puppies with ‘grate’ names looking for new homes – but prospective owners must love CHEESE
Pets and Animals 3 October 2025
Rare first editions of Jane Austen classics including Pride and Prejudice are up for auction at Christie’s New York alongside works by Columbus and Marco Polo.
First edition of Pride and Prejudice expected to fetch up to £133,300 at auction alongside other Jane Austen gems
World News 3 October 2025
A woman discovered her family heirloom was not rose quartz but a rare 3.18 carat pink diamond in a Bulgari ring valued at up to £1m set to headline an Italian auction.
Cheap-looking family heirloom turns out to be rare diamond worth £1m
World News 3 October 2025

You Might also Like

A dog named Triton stunned his owner by leaping from a boat to swim alongside a wild dolphin off the Devon coast with the pair gliding through the ocean together.
Pets and Animals

Owner shocked as dog leaps into ocean and begins swimming with DOLPHIN on UK coast

3 October 2025
Six cheese named Spaniel Poodle puppies Stilton Halloumi Cheddar Camembert Mozzarella and Parmesan have found new homes after the RSPCA received over 1600 adoption applications.
Pets and Animals

Six puppies with ‘grate’ names looking for new homes – but prospective owners must love CHEESE

3 October 2025
Rare first editions of Jane Austen classics including Pride and Prejudice are up for auction at Christie’s New York alongside works by Columbus and Marco Polo.
World News

First edition of Pride and Prejudice expected to fetch up to £133,300 at auction alongside other Jane Austen gems

3 October 2025
A woman discovered her family heirloom was not rose quartz but a rare 3.18 carat pink diamond in a Bulgari ring valued at up to £1m set to headline an Italian auction.
World News

Cheap-looking family heirloom turns out to be rare diamond worth £1m

3 October 2025
A savvy dad revealed how he preps Christmas dinner nearly a year early saving 75 percent by stocking up on yellow sticker deals turkeys and desserts months in advance.
Real Life

‘I prep my Christmas dinner a YEAR in advance – people say I’m MAD but I bought my turkeys for just £12 in January’

3 October 2025
A pilot flew 110 miles from London to Birmingham just to enjoy his favourite mixed grill at Soho Tavern combining his love of flying with his passion for food.
UK News

Pilot flies 110 miles from London to Birmingham for a mixed grill at his favourite restaurant

3 October 2025
A pet python named Henry was reunited with her family after astonishingly turning up at an In-N-Out drive thru 40 miles from home leaving staff and customers stunned.
Pets and Animals

Huge pet SNAKE who slithered through fast food drive-thru reunited with family

3 October 2025
Treviso Italy the birthplace of tiramisu is hosting a World Cup to crown the best version of the dessert with amateurs competing in original and creative recipe categories.
World News

Birthplace of famous dessert hosts World Cup and ANYONE can enter… except professionals

3 October 2025
//

What’s The Jam is your one stop website for the latest viral and weird news from around the world.

 
Have a story to tell? Hello@whatsthejam.com

Quick Link

  • Customize Interests
  • Bookmarks
  • Write for Us
  • Newsletter
  • About Us

Top Categories

  • UK News
  • World News
  • Latest Videos
  • Lifestyle
  • Super Viral

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

[mc4wp_form]

What's The JamWhat's The Jam
Follow US
© 2023 What's The Jam. All Rights Reserved.
Go to mobile version
adbanner
AdBlock Detected
Our site is an advertising supported site. Please whitelist to support our site.
Okay, I'll Whitelist
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?