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(Left) two rare Cook Inlet belugas. Photo, Emma Luck, Flukeprint Photography.
What is a beluga?
Belugas are all-white cetaceans living in the Arctic circle. They tend to travel in large pods and are very characteristic and unique, even amongst cetaceans.
Belugas share a family with narwhals. An adult beluga is usually about 10-17 feet long and 3,000 pounds. The calves are born grey, and whiten as they age. Certain belugas even develop a yellowish color. They are sometimes called 'the canaries of the sea,' because they have the ability to make a wide range of vocalizations. Their melons are very soft, and they can manipulate the organ to make different sounds.
Beluga populations
There are several recognized large groups of beluga whales in the world, in the following regions.
The Bering Sea
This region is off the coast of Alaska.
Chukchi
Chukchi belugas are native to traditionally Inuit lands in Russia, where they have been hunted in small amounts for centuries for food and other resources, like oil and skin.
The Sea of Okhotsk
This region in northeast Russia is infamous for being the location of many marine mammal captures taking place within the last ten years. Remote and frigid for much of the year, the Sea of Okhotsk is often difficult for the government and other groups to surveil and monitor for illegal activity.
High Antarctic Canada
Belugas in this region are hunted by polar bears, occasionally. Some whales have scars from the claws of bears which they escaped.
West Greenland
This area is home to the largest belugas of any type.
Hudson Bay, Canada
Hudson Bay was one of the regions in which many belugas were captured between 1930 and 1990.
James Bay, Canada
Salvbard
The Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada
Whales in this region, in the past, have been exposed to chemical poisons from nearby oil refineries which often killed them, and made their bodies biohazards after death.
Cook Inlet
This is a small population of belugas native to Cook Inlet, Alaska. They are thought to be resident to the area and endangered, generally dwindling in population. Revival efforts are in full effect.
About Captive Belugas
On the other pages in this section, you will find the most complete lists I could compile for the world's captive belugas. Many, perhaps most, are missing from this list.
Belugas don't do well in captivity. It's rare for them to live to the third generation in tanks. They don't belong there any more than orcas do. Even today, in spite of its illegality, belugas are still being captured, mostly in Russia. Even American aquaria, like the Georgia Aquarium, have attempted to import illegally caught Russian belugas.
To this day, especially in the United States and Canada, the beluga shuffle continues. Animals move parks all the time. It's stressful for them, and negatively affects their health. We need to develop more respect for belugas, and we need to do it soon. There are lives at stake.
Hvladimir
Hvladimir is a very interesting beluga. You may have seen viral videos of him fetching lost cameras, playing with rugby balls thrown to him, or harassing local seabirds. Hvladimir lives in Norway now, and it's thought that he was once captive, likely in a Russian government facility, where he was trained in a variety of behaviors and was equipped with a camera before swimming all the way to Norway. Russia has never claimed ownership over him, but the harness he was wearing when he was found said, in large bold letters, otherwise.
It's very obvious that Hvladimir was long in human care. He hasn't been seen making connections with local cetaceans, instead favoring boats and human interaction. He's charming, and very comfortable approaching vessels and playing with the people on board. This has also proved dangerous for him. He has been spotted with cuts on his back, sustained by a boat rudder, a classic example of why people need to be aware of Hvladmir's presence and appropriate boat conduct around marine mammals.
Other than that, Vlad's origins are not really known. He's certainly a character, and doesn't seem to be in any danger. Norwegian agencies plan on leaving him to live in their waters, and letting boats know about the friendly whale.