2. Beluga Whale:
Appearance
Beluga Whales or White Whales, are most
commonly identified by their white color, and their
prominent forehead called the melon.
When Belugas are born they are typically dark
grey in color, and slowly turn white when they
reach maturity. Belugas do not have a dorsal fin
which makes swimming through the icy water
easier, they are also born with teeth which helps
them grab and tear food apart. Beluga Whales,
though they are one of the smallest species of
whales, can grow 13- 20 feet in length, weigh up to
3,300 pounds, and live for 25-30 years.
3. diet is very different. Belugas with typically eat whatever fish or animal that
common to the area, they also use their teeth for grabbing food, not for chewing
cause they swallow the fish whole.
Beluga whales are very social animals, traveling in pods, and communicating with
an array of sounds and noises. Belugas typically live in arctic and sub-arctic waters,
but when they migrate they usually move to warmer water in the summer because
when the ice comes they could get stuck in it and be food for predators like Killer
Whales and Polar bears. Belugas can moves and live in varied water because their
diet is very different. Belugas with typically eat whatever fish or animal that
common to the area, they also use their teeth for grabbing food, not for chewing
cause they swallow the fish whole.
Beluga whales are very social animals, traveling in pods, and communicating with
an array of sounds and noises. Belugas typically live in arctic and sub-arctic waters,
but when they migrate they usually move to warmer water in the summer because
when the ice comes they could get stuck in it and be food for predators like Killer
Whales and Polar bears. Belugas can moves and live in varied water because their
diet is very different. Belugas with typically eat whatever fish or animal that
common to the area, they also use their teeth for grabbing food, not for chewing
cause they swallow the fish whole.
4. Beluga whales: Endangered
species, how to save them
As you can see Beluga Whales are amazing and beautiful animals that need to survive but Beluga whales
in the Canadian Hudson bay have recently been put on the endangered species list. The reason they have
been put there is because in the 1600’s and up till the early 1900’s people would hunt and kill Belugas for
their thick skin to make leather causing a decrease in the population of whales. Belugas being hunted back
then is not the only cause, other causes include, shipping, pollution, habitat destruction, oil spills, fishing,
and harassment.
All of these causes can and some of them are being helped and stopped with the efforts of people stopping
commercial whale hunting, protecting habitats, and reducing the accidental injuries of whales. If we all
put in an effort, we could help these whales keep their homes and lives.
5. Why we don’t want belugas to go
extinct
Belugas do not have a very strong relationship with humans but humans as a species enjoy and sometimes
need them. In 1861 the first Beluga was put on display and ever since then Belugas have brought joy and
delight to us, we can see them by Whale watching, even at some aquariums Along with being beautiful
creatures, Belugas are helping scientist further understand echolocation, and even sometimes mimicking
human speech. and we are even training them to bring divers item they need.
6. Beluga fun facts
Belugas, unlike other whales, can swim backwards.
Beluga comes from the Russian word Belukha, meaning “ White Whale”
The vertebrae in the belugas neck are not fused together making the neck very flexible.
They have an amazing sense of hearing and use echolocation to find blow holes in the ice
and even find food.
They can change the shape of their “melon” on their head, by blowing air through the nasal
cavities.
Belugas love playing, they will play with food, driftwood, and even blow bubbles.
