first sighting of baby white whale at Cid Harbour, the Whitsundays, Queensland, Australia.

Following the spectacular sighting of a white baby whale in the Whitsundays two weeks ago, a campaign has been launched to name the baby.

The white baby whale, first sighted at Cid Harbour in the Whitsunday Islands by a local fisherman, is exceptionally rare.

Tourism Whitsundays together with Whitsunday Escape is offering a 5 night Whitsundays sailing holiday to the person who submits the best name for the new baby whale.

“As we hope to see this new whale each year on it’s annual migration, we felt it really needed a name for everyone to refer to it as,” Tourism Whitsundays Chief Executive Officer Peter O’Reilly said.

“Whether or not it’s related to the famous ‘Migaloo’ who has migrated up and down the coast over the past few years, this white calf will be equally as popular for whale spotters and should have a name,” he said.

“Of course the name will need to not be gender specific, as we know so little about this calf including whether it is male or female,”

“We look forward to learning much more about it as it grows up and continues to migrate along the coast each year.”

The competition opens today at www.facebook.com/WhitsundaysQLD and closes on Wednesday, 26 October and will be judged by Tourism Whitsundays, Whitsunday Escape and the local who first spotted the whale.

The judges will choose the best name for the baby whale and the winner will be awarded a 5 night charter boat holiday in the Whitsundays with Whitsunday Escape.  The holiday includes 5 nights on board a 38 foot sailing catamaran which comfortably fits 5 passengers during the Whitsundays prime whale watching time 1 July – 31 August 2012.  No formal qualifications are required to charter a vessel, and a sail guide will be provided for up to 2 days to teach the charterer/s the basics of sailing.  The prize is valued at $5,000.