White whale could be target of Japanese harpoons

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Updated July 10, 2009 11:01:52

A rare white whale is drawing tourists to the coast of north-east Australia.

Migaloo - which means "white fella" in an Aboriginal dialect - was first sighted in 1991 and is believed to be the world's only all-white whale.

The Queensland state government has declared Migaloo a "special interest whale" and banned anyone coming closer than 500 meters from him. But there are concerns that when he makes his annual summer voyage to the Antarctic to feed, he could be in the firing line of Japanese harpoons.

Presenter: Sen Lam
Speakers: Professor Peter Harrison, director of the Southern Cross University Whale Research Center and a member of the Australian Government's Threatened Species Scientific Committee

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