Public urged to report sightings of rare white humpback ‘Siale’ after Crescent Head sighting

A RARE white humpback whale sighting off the Mid North Coast has prompted wildlife authorities to urge the public to report any further sightings immediately and to strictly observe exclusion zones.

The whale was sighted off Little Nobby near Crescent Head approximately 5pm on Saturday 10 January, drawing the attention of marine scientists and conservation groups.

The animal is believed to be Siale, a young albino female humpback whale.

She is one of only two ever confirmed along Australia’s east coast, the other being the well-known Migaloo.

Port Macquarie’s Leigh Mansfield, a Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary volunteer, said public assistance is critical to correctly identifying the whale and understanding its movements.

“We don’t even know who this whale is.

“We suspect it could have been the white whale Siale that was seen in November, but we do not know,” Mr Mansfield said.

Wildlife authorities say identifying the whale depends on members of the public capturing clear images if it is sighted again, particularly of the fluke, or tail, which acts like a fingerprint and is unique to each whale.

Since the sighting on Saturday, the whale has not been seen again and its current location is unknown.

The protected species could have travelled further north, up the Coffs Coast, or moved south to South West Rocks or Port Macquarie.

Travelling at approximately five kilometres an hour on average, the whale could be south of Sydney, or it could be well offshore, explained Mr Mansfield.

Because of this uncertainty, authorities are asking boaters, coastal residents and beachgoers to remain vigilant and report any sightings immediately to assist with tracking and identification.

“If people do see it, respect the legal limits of being near a white whale.

“If someone does see it, even if you come across it in a boat, for the first 30 seconds or so before you move away… take as many photos and videos in that short time and then move away from it and contact the authorities.

“If someone can stay on site until someone can get there, which could take an hour or so – because it’s a big coast and not everyone’s close – that’s what we really want.

“[What] we really need a photo of is the tail so we can ID it.”

Siale is a true albino humpback whale identifiable by her white skin and red eyes.

She was born in Tonga in 2024, where her name translates to “fragrant white flower”.

The last confirmed sighting of Siale was in November 2025 on the Central Coast, making her reappearance further north significant for researchers monitoring her migration and wellbeing.

Authorities have reminded all water users that a minimum 500-metre exclusion zone applies to all vessels, including boats, jet skis and other watercraft.

Drones are not permitted to operate within 100 metres of the whale under any circumstances, regardless of whether the operator is on land or at sea.

Anyone who sights the whale is urged to immediately contact wildlife authorities to assist with monitoring and conservation efforts.

By Sis HIGGINS