2020 Volume 60 Issue 2 Pages 243-248
In May and July 2019, two white killer whales were observed in the Nemuro Strait off Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido. The first was presumed to be a mature male, and the second was a female or an immature male. When compared to previously reported pictures of white killer whales from the waters around the North Pacific, neither individual matched the characteristics of known individuals. Although it was not possible to determine whether these two animals were albino or leucism, all visible areas that would be black on a normal color type were white on these individuals. Since there have been no reports of such white killer whales off the coast of Japan, these two are considered to be the first records in Japan.
