New footage of a white orca spotted off Vancouver Island last weekend gives the clearest glimpse yet of the rare mammal with its pod.

The Department of Fisheries and Ocean captured drone video of the juvenile Biggsa国际传媒檚 killer whale while it was swimming near Campbell River on Saturday.

The transient orca has been named Tlsa国际传媒檜k, a Coast Salish word that means sa国际传媒渕oon,sa国际传媒� and is known to scientists as T46-B1B. Researchers have yet to confirm its gender, but believe itsa国际传媒檚 roughly a year old.

Some experts believe the orca has Chediak-Higashi syndrome, a genetic condition that can cause albinism in mammals, while others suspect the grey-like film thatsa国际传媒檚 caused its colour to lighten is something different. Neither have been confirmed.

READ MORE:

The Biggsa国际传媒檚 killer whale family travels between southern California and Alaska, hunting for seals and sea lions.

In late May, the same orca was spotted with its transient pod near Nanaimo.

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
Like us on and follow us on .