Frosty has become famous (or famous, her gender could not be confirmed) on the shores of southern California in recent weeks after her presence was discovered when her group approached the coast of Long Beach, near Los Angels. Finally, on Monday the 24th, the first quality images of this strange baby killer whale could be taken with the help of a drone from the company Newport Coastal Adventure, specialized in marine tourist routes. Frosty has been observed and photographed on several occasions since 2020 but not with as much quality or for as long as on this occasion.
Frosty’s main characteristic is, as can be seen in the videos broadcast on social networks, the lack of coloration in practically all of his body. Only a part of her head is grey. It is, therefore, a case of leucism, a very rare genetic characteristic in orcas and other cetaceans.
Frosty’s group of killer whales was initially seen on this occasion more than 45 miles from Newport Harbour, and several members of Newport Coastal Adventure decided to sneak up on the young luecistic specimen. Experts estimate that Frosty is three years old, but he is constantly swimming with several adults, one of whom could be his mother. Killer whale pups generally have the same skin color as adults from the first year of life.
After several hours of sailing, one of the boats, with a group of 20 passengers on board, was able to locate Frosty’s group and with the help of a drone, high-quality images were captured.
Whale watchers were able to watch the whales for more than two hours as the pod traveled up the coast until sunset, even making a few close passes under their boats, said Delaney Trowbridge, the vessel manager.
Experts at Newport Coastal Adventure say killer whale sightings are extremely rare in Southern California, although this particular pod—technically named CA216—was spotted in Morro Bay in San Luis Obispo County last October. Data of this same group is known much further north, as far as British Columbia (Canada) and even close to Alaska (USA), but until now no videos of such quality have been released in which it was possible to clearly observe the young Frosty.
See images of Frosty on Instagram and on Facebook.
