|
about |
Beluga Whale The Beluga Whale is a highly social white whale, smaller than most toothed whales at ten to sixteen feet in length and averaging 3,000 pounds. Their life span is forty plus years and they travel in pods of the same gender and age. Highly gregarious, Belugas tend to move from pod to pod in their arctic and sub-arctic habitat. Fossil evidence indicates that the Beluga family once thrived in warmer waters but its range has varied with that of the ice pack - expanding during ice ages and contracting when the ice retreats. They feed mostly on fish, squid, octopus, crab and shrimp. Baby Belugas are born gray to enable them to hide in their mother's shadow and gradually turn snow white to blend with the ice and snow. As an adult, this all white whale has a dorsal ridge rather than a fin and can change the shape of its melon (the fatty lump found at the center of the forehead) by blowing air around its sinuses. Also, the vertebrae in the neck are not fused together allowing the animal to turn its head laterally. Interestingly, Belugas exhibit a wide range of vocalizations including clicks, squeaks, whistles, and a bell-like clang. This has been compared to the string section of an orchestra tuning up before a concert. They were among the first whale species to be brought into captivity beginning in 1861 at Barnam's Museum in New York City. Since then, both the U.S. Navy and the former Soviet Union have used the Beluga in anti-mining operations in Arctic waters. The main natural predators of this gentle mammal are polar bears but they can also be targets for orca as they swim only two to five miles per hour. Also, because of their predictable migration patterns, Beluga have been hunted by man for centuries. Many of their populations may never recover from the days of no restrictions on the number killed each year. Human pollution is proving to be a significant danger as well. Incidents of cancer have been reported to be rising in the St. Lawrence River population. The bodies of resident Belugas there contain so many contaminants that their bodies are treated as toxic waste. Greatest threat - man and climate change
|