All-white killer whale seen off Russia

Russian scientists say they\'ve made what they believe is the first sighting of an all-white adult orca, or killer whale, off the country\'s Kamchatka Peninsula. The adult male, nicknamed Iceberg, appears to be healthy and leading a normal life in its pod, they said. While various species of whale occasionally will present a white specimen, the only known white orcas have been young animals, with adults all showing the normal black and white coloration. The sighting of the adult white orca occurred during a research cruise off Kamchatka by Russian scientists and students. It was co-led by Erich Hoyt, a long-time orca scientist, conservationist and author. \"We\'ve seen another two white orcas in Russia but they\'ve been young, whereas this is the first time we\'ve seen a mature adult,\" Hoyt told BBC News. \"It has the full two-meter-high (6.5 feet) dorsal fin of a mature male, which means it\'s at least 16 years old -- in fact the fin is somewhat ragged, so it might be a bit older.\" Male orcas can live to 50 or 60 years old, though 30 is more usual. \"Iceberg seems to be fully socialized; we know that these fish-eating orcas stay with their mothers for life, and as far as we can see he\'s right behind his mother with presumably his brothers next to him,\" Hoyt said.