Ain't love grand? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

cchris · 06-22-2004, 05:18 PM

There have been plenty of whales cruising up the coast of late in search of warmer waters but this albino is something else.
What a beautiful creature.

Safe passage to the mating area.
.........................................................................................................

LINK

Whale leaves his bachelor pod
By Josh Massoud
June 23, 2004

MOVE over Mark and Delta, Australia's newest hit celebrity couple has arrived.

On the move ... Migaloo (below) and his special friend

The romantic notion of a white whale hit unprecedented amorous heights yesterday when Migaloo, the world's only identified pale humpback, paraded what is thought to be a new girlfriend off the state's Far North Coast.

Weighing in at a combined 70 tonnes, the pair weren't afraid to front a "paparazzi" of snap-happy passengers aboard Tweed Heads cruiser Spirit of the Bay.

Flapping tails, waving dorsal fins and an hour - long interlude with the boat and passing dolphins highlighted the couple's unabashed display of public affection.

At one stage Migaloo came within touching distance of the vessel. While performing a close-up roll, Migaloo's flanks exposed over 40 scars up to 20cm in length, the wounds supporting optimism that he is a man on a mission.

"He's sporting some scars from fights with other males that are often over a female," said on-board marine biologist Sara Smith.

"She's staying nice and close to him, but he's being pretty protective. He's always closer to the boat when they approach."

The famed whale, believed to be aged 14, was initially spotted in 1991 and yesterday's sighting is the first with a single companion. On July 10 last year Ms Smith observed a playful Migaloo among a "bachelor pod" in the same spot near Kingscliff.

"He's found his girl and is keen to put on the turbos to get to the mating area," said Ms Smith of the earlier than anticipated appearance.

Upon entering the Whitsunday humpback breeding grounds in a couple of weeks, Migaloo is expected to repeatedly consummate the relationship.

Which raises the exciting possibility of an albino calf.

Southern Cross University Whale Research Centre executive officer David Lloyd said fellow humpbacks were able to discern Migaloo's unique colour, but he was unsure whether the opposite sex preferred such pallor.

Declaring Migaloo to be a creature of special interest, Environment Minister John Mickel yesterday reaffirmed the measures for this season. Boats and jet-skiers are prevented from venturing closer than 500m to the whale, while aircraft are not permitted to fly lower than 610m above Migaloo. Trangressors risk fines of up to $12,375.

The Daily Telegraph

06-22-2004, 05:21 PM

I love whales.

ultra_agent9 · 06-22-2004, 05:30 PM

Even big ugly looking creatures fall in love too...

maleficent · 06-22-2004, 05:36 PM

Now thats a feel good story...

mingusfingers · 06-22-2004, 05:52 PM

pretty cool...I wanna see a whale sometime.

water_boy1999 · 06-22-2004, 06:10 PM

awww......how cute is that?

water_boy1999 · 06-22-2004, 06:16 PM

Seems like Migaloo is quite the gentleman. He protects his lady, swims to the side closest the boat, fights for the one he loves, is in constant attention mode. Perhaps he is a likely candidate for an exception to the rule that "nice guys finish last".

See "A Toast to the Nice Guys (who, of course, finish last)" thread.

Fremen · 06-22-2004, 06:54 PM

That's a whale of a story...

losthellhound · 06-22-2004, 07:08 PM

great story, and a stunning animal

Esco · 06-22-2004, 07:30 PM

Reminds me of when I went whale watching off the coast of Gloucester ...

/me pukes again

Nice story.

diddagirl · 06-22-2004, 08:32 PM

Ohhh frick. What a cute story. Whales are amazing creatures.

SixEdxMia · 06-22-2004, 08:38 PM

They're beautiful. <3

charlesesl · 06-22-2004, 08:45 PM

I suggest this post be moved to titty forum. This is errotic stuff.

JStrider · 06-22-2004, 08:47 PM

Call me Ishmael

its the white whale!

bundy · 06-23-2004, 04:26 AM

Migaloo is a big celeb here... a little while ago whale watchers were scared that something might have happened to him (and looking at the scars, maybe something did) since he came through the migration late... but there he is this year... in love!!!

what an incredible beast.

btw, i think that fine for getting too close is WAY to small.

Rubyee · 06-23-2004, 04:47 AM

And people say that chivalry is dead.

It obviously isn't- at least in sea mammal terms it isn't.

Sleepyjack · 06-24-2004, 09:38 PM

Very cute

redarrow · 06-25-2004, 09:35 AM

Lucky guy.

06-22-2004, 05:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
cchris Junkie Location: Sydney	Ain't love grand? There have been plenty of whales cruising up the coast of late in search of warmer waters but this albino is something else. What a beautiful creature. Safe passage to the mating area. ......................................................................................................... LINK Whale leaves his bachelor pod By Josh Massoud June 23, 2004 MOVE over Mark and Delta, Australia's newest hit celebrity couple has arrived. On the move ... Migaloo (below) and his special friend The romantic notion of a white whale hit unprecedented amorous heights yesterday when Migaloo, the world's only identified pale humpback, paraded what is thought to be a new girlfriend off the state's Far North Coast. Weighing in at a combined 70 tonnes, the pair weren't afraid to front a "paparazzi" of snap-happy passengers aboard Tweed Heads cruiser Spirit of the Bay. Flapping tails, waving dorsal fins and an hour - long interlude with the boat and passing dolphins highlighted the couple's unabashed display of public affection. At one stage Migaloo came within touching distance of the vessel. While performing a close-up roll, Migaloo's flanks exposed over 40 scars up to 20cm in length, the wounds supporting optimism that he is a man on a mission. "He's sporting some scars from fights with other males that are often over a female," said on-board marine biologist Sara Smith. "She's staying nice and close to him, but he's being pretty protective. He's always closer to the boat when they approach." The famed whale, believed to be aged 14, was initially spotted in 1991 and yesterday's sighting is the first with a single companion. On July 10 last year Ms Smith observed a playful Migaloo among a "bachelor pod" in the same spot near Kingscliff. "He's found his girl and is keen to put on the turbos to get to the mating area," said Ms Smith of the earlier than anticipated appearance. Upon entering the Whitsunday humpback breeding grounds in a couple of weeks, Migaloo is expected to repeatedly consummate the relationship. Which raises the exciting possibility of an albino calf. Southern Cross University Whale Research Centre executive officer David Lloyd said fellow humpbacks were able to discern Migaloo's unique colour, but he was unsure whether the opposite sex preferred such pallor. Declaring Migaloo to be a creature of special interest, Environment Minister John Mickel yesterday reaffirmed the measures for this season. Boats and jet-skiers are prevented from venturing closer than 500m to the whale, while aircraft are not permitted to fly lower than 610m above Migaloo. Trangressors risk fines of up to $12,375. The Daily Telegraph

06-22-2004, 05:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
ultra_agent9 Crazy Location: Tokyo Japan	Even big ugly looking creatures fall in love too... __________________ Champaigne for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends.

06-22-2004, 05:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	Now thats a feel good story... __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

06-22-2004, 05:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
mingusfingers Psycho Location: uhhhh	pretty cool...I wanna see a whale sometime. __________________ Still Looking

06-22-2004, 06:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
water_boy1999 Fly em straight! Location: Above and Beyond	awww......how cute is that? __________________ Doh!!!! -Homer Simpson

06-22-2004, 05:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
:::OshnSoul::: Guest	I love whales.

06-22-2004, 06:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
water_boy1999 Fly em straight! Location: Above and Beyond	Seems like Migaloo is quite the gentleman. He protects his lady, swims to the side closest the boat, fights for the one he loves, is in constant attention mode. Perhaps he is a likely candidate for an exception to the rule that "nice guys finish last". See "A Toast to the Nice Guys (who, of course, finish last)" thread. __________________ Doh!!!! -Homer Simpson

06-22-2004, 06:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
Fremen With a mustache, the cool factor would be too much Location: left side of my couch, East Texas	That's a whale of a story... __________________ Google Last edited by Fremen; 06-22-2004 at 08:02 PM..

06-22-2004, 07:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
losthellhound Thats MR. Muffin Face now Location: Everywhere work sends me	great story, and a stunning animal __________________ "Life is possible only with illusions. And so, the question for the science of mental health must become an absolutely new and revolutionary one, yet one that reflects the essence of the human condition: On what level of illusion does one live?" -- Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death

06-22-2004, 07:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
Esco Insane	Reminds me of when I went whale watching off the coast of Gloucester ... /me pukes again Nice story. __________________ The user formerly known as BlingBling

06-22-2004, 08:32 PM	#11 (permalink)
diddagirl Addict Location: Calgary, AB	Ohhh frick. What a cute story. Whales are amazing creatures. __________________ "Is it so small a thing to have enjoyed the sun, to have lived long in the spring, to have loved, to have thought, to have done." -Matthew Arnold

06-22-2004, 08:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
SixEdxMia <3 Peetster Location: Peetster's house.	They're beautiful. <3 __________________ Honey,We're home.

06-22-2004, 08:45 PM	#13 (permalink)
charlesesl Psycho	I suggest this post be moved to titty forum. This is errotic stuff. __________________ It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. Dr. Viktor E. Frankl

06-22-2004, 08:47 PM	#14 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	Call me Ishmael its the white whale! __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

06-23-2004, 04:26 AM	#15 (permalink)
bundy . Location: Tokyo	Migaloo is a big celeb here... a little while ago whale watchers were scared that something might have happened to him (and looking at the scars, maybe something did) since he came through the migration late... but there he is this year... in love!!! what an incredible beast. btw, i think that fine for getting too close is WAY to small. __________________ Ohayo!!!

06-24-2004, 09:38 PM	#17 (permalink)
Sleepyjack Fast'n'Bulbous Location: Australia, Perth	Very cute

06-25-2004, 09:35 AM	#18 (permalink)
redarrow Banned Location: i gotta go	Lucky guy.

06-23-2004, 04:47 AM	#16 (permalink)
Rubyee I'm baaaaack!	And people say that chivalry is dead. It obviously isn't- at least in sea mammal terms it isn't. __________________ You don't know from fun.