There are fears the rare white whale washed up on a beach is the world-famous humpback Migaloo first spotted off Byron Bay in 1991 and who went on to become a celebrity.
An albino whale's carcass has been discovered washed ashore at Mallacoota, in eastern Victoria, on an Australian beach only accessible by water.
Migaloo, which means 'White Fellow' in Aboriginal, went missing two years ago after losing his tracking device and is the only known all-white humpback whale in the world.
Local resident Peter Coles, who was out fishing when he kayaked across to see the dead mammal.
He told Sky News : "It was beautiful even though it was dead. It was pretty spectacular.
"It was pure white and marble looking. I thought it looked like a sculpture, it almost didn't look real.
"I paced it out and it was 10m long. I didn't touch it and it was a bit smelly.
"There weren't any signs of decomposition but it did look very, very dead."
Mr Coles, who took photos of the humpback, went on: "I felt sad for the poor creature, not knowing it might be Migaloo."
He said it was only later he found out about the rare albino whale.
He added: "When talk came about, I realised it could be something quite rare if it is the white whale.
"It would mean I witnessed something incredible without knowing it at the time."
Wildlife scientist Dr. Vanessa Pirotta tweet: "This is a photo of the white whale washed up in Victoria.
"Currently working with other scientists to identify this individual.
"This may or may not be Migaloo. Nothing confirmed yet. #watchthisspace "
Migaloo is estimated to have born in 1986 and marine experts have said the location lines up with Migaloo's migration pattern.
Humpback whales usually live to around 45 to 50 years.
If estimates of Migalloo's age are correct, he would be around 36-years-old now.
Photographs and genetic sampling will be used by scientists to work out if the dead whale is actually Migaloo.
Migaloo is understood to be around 15m long and about 40-tonnes.
Victoria's environment department (DELWP Victoria) has warned people not to touch or interfere with the dead whale and that anyone found trying to take a souvenir such as a tooth will face significant penalties.
