WATCH: Pair of rare white orca spotted off the coast of Japan

Two rare white orca were spotted by whale-watchers off the coast of Japan.

According to the MailOnline, the orcas were spotted in the 20-mile stretch of water, between Hokkaido and Kunashir, known as the Kunashirskiy Strait on 24 July. The white orca were swimming together as part of the same pod.

Scientists believe fewer than ten white orca exist in the world.

“It was the best day ever. This is the first time two white orcas have been seen off the coast of Japan,” says Mai, an employee of the Gojiraiwa-Kanko tour company. 

She told the MailOnline that one of the pair was older with slightly darker skin while the other was younger and had clearly visible scratch marks down its back. The older whale was first spotted around two years ago but it is the first time she has seen the younger animal.

The pair are not ‘true’ albinos, which is caused by a genetic trait that means the affected animal produces no melanin at all, says the MailOnline.

Images courtesy of the MailOnline