![]() Noc managed to convince a human diver to climb out of the whale’s tank when he heard what he thought was another person instructing him to leave. Noc, a beluga whale who lived at the National Marine Mammal Foundation in San Diego for 30 years, was one of the first belugas observed to exhibit this type of behavior. Beluga whales living in captivity have been reported to mimic the speech of their human handlers.The adaptation is thought to help them target their prey in areas that are full of ice or silt. ![]() The vertebrae in a beluga’s neck is not fused together, giving them the unusual ability to turn its head up, down and side-to-side.Scientists have documented at least 11 distinct beluga whale sounds, including high-pitched whistles, clicks, mews, bleats, chirps, and bell-like tones. Another nickname belugas have earned for themselves is “sea canary” due to the rich and varied vocal range of the beluga. The fatty organ is believed to aid in echolocation (a process in which animals use echoes of their calls to locate and identify objects), and it can be observed changing shape during whale vocalizations. Belugas are sometimes referred to as “melonheads” due to the bulbous structure that occupies the whale’s forehead.Polar bears and orcas are known predators of belugas throughout their Arctic range. Threats to beluga whales include captivity, climate change, hunting, oil and gas development, and industrial and urban pollution.In 2009, a captive beluga whale rescued a distressed participant of a free diving competition by pushing her to the surface.It can take up to eight years before they turn completely white. However, these white whales are born dark gray. The word beluga comes from the Russian word “bielo” meaning white.long, usually nursing from their mothers for up to two years. Females whales give birth to a single calf once every three years on average and their newborns are around five ft. The average gestation period (the period between conception and birth) for beluga whales lasts between 14 -15 months.Despite being a ‘toothed whale’, beluga whales do not chew their food instead they swallow their prey whole. ![]() Here are our top ten facts on the wonderful beluga: Unfortunately, belugas are one of the most commonly kept cetaceans (whale/dolphin) in captivity and classifed as “near threatened” on the IUCN red list. Belugas have long been a source of fascination for many, due to their unique white colouring and lack of a dorsal fin. The beluga whale, or white whale, is an Arctic and sub-Arctic cetacean. In another of our guests blogs as part of #whaleweek, Natalie Kyriacou founder and CEO WDC partner, ‘My Green World’, highlights a few fascinating facts about beluga whales. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |