28 Jan 2016

Cook Strait whale confirmed as Migaloo

8:08 pm on 28 January 2016

A white humpback whale seen in the Cook Strait last year has been confirmed as Australia's famous Migaloo.

A skin sample from the whale was taken last July, when it was spotted by researchers on the annual Cook Strait Whale Survey.

DNA analysis by Oregon State University found it matches the genetic profile taken from Migaloo in Australia.

The sighting last year was the first of the whale outside Australia.