Rare White Orca Glides Alongside Tour Boat Off Japan’s Shiretoko Peninsula

Video filmed by X user 知床ドリーム captures a rare white male orca swimming near a tour boat in the waters off Rausu on the Shiretoko Peninsula.

The original post states that the animal is the same male orca previously seen off Rausu in 2023. It also notes that two white orcas, a male and a female, or possibly a young male, were observed in 2024, bringing the total number of white individuals seen to three.

The footage shows a pale, almost entirely white orca moving through choppy gray seas. Its tall, curved dorsal fin repeatedly breaks the surface as the animal swims through the water.

The orca’s light-colored body is clearly visible against the dark sea. In the background, a white tourist boat equipped with yellow fenders carries several people wearing yellow life vests who watch the encounter.

As it passes the vessel, the orca surfaces multiple times, creating splashes and ripples across the water.

Shiretoko is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its rich marine life, including orcas that frequent the area, particularly during the summer months when they hunt.

White orcas are extremely rare in the wild, and repeated sightings of the same individual have made it a recognizable presence in local waters.

The video highlights the animal’s distinctive pale coloration and powerful dorsal fin as it moves through the waves near the observing boat. Local nature photographers and tour operators continue documenting these unusual encounters, helping raise awareness of the unique marine ecosystem around the Shiretoko Peninsula.