This week has been the week of the dolphins. With not one, but two epic encounters! Here in the Whitsundays, we are fortunate enough to encounter dolphins almost every week, but this week we had two firsts for our crew and guests.
On Wednesday the team on board the Parley Beach Clean charter sighted dolphins mating and hunting in Whitsunday Passage. This rarely seen behaviour made for an unforgettable, if not sightly X-rated encounter for the team on board! This sighting has been logged with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority through the Eye on the Reef Sighting Network.
But to better this still, Ocean Rafting’s guests were treated to this insane encounter this week, with what may be an extremely rare albino Bottlenose Dolphin, now aptly named ‘Luna’! The youngster was spotted by our eco-host and mer-man, Thomas, on our Northern Exposure tour this week off Whitsunday and Hook Island. The pod curiously interacted with our vessel, as our crew and guests watched on in awe! Dolphins are a common sight aboard Ocean Rafting, but this seemingly all white juvenile has left the team stunned! Despite appearing to be completely white, it is extremely difficult to truly identify the cause. There are several potential explanations, such as being a true albino, or pigment deficiency and loss as a result of a lack of melanin. Stay tuned as we consult the experts to try and get a better understanding of this unique encounter! No matter what the true nature and story of ‘Luna’, this is a truly incredible and extremely rare encounter which has got the team buzzing, and we eagerly await to find out more… and hopefully see more of ‘Luna’!
Check out the amazing video here
