It’s whale-watching season in Taiwan. As tourists flock to the country’s east coast to catch a glimpse of these magnificent sea mammals, one group of lucky whale watchers witnessed the reappearance of a rare albino melon-headed whale.
The crystal-clear waters off of eastern Taiwan are some of the island’s most beautiful. And they offer spectacular views of Taiwan’s ocean wildlife. Whales will show up off the coast of Hualien to frolic, drawing hoards of eager spectators.
This year, whale watchers here were in for a treat. A rare albino melon-headed whale appeared in the sea on August 7, standing out from the crowd. However, veterans of the activity realized that this particular whale was a return customer. The last time it surfaced here was exactly two years ago — August 7, 2020. What are the odds of that?
The captain of the whale-watching ship, Lin Chun-jie, says that he recognized the whale from a distinctive tumor on its body. He says he’s amazed that he could see the same albino more than once. Lin says it was like reuniting with an old friend. Perhaps the whale itself shared that sentiment.