Endangered species: Beluga WhaleGenny Kellington

December 10, 2013English 10

Essay 2: powerpoint

Beluga Whale: Appearance

Beluga Whales or White Whales, are most Beluga Whales or White Whales, are most commonly identified by their white color, and their commonly identified by their white color, and their

prominent forehead called the melon. prominent forehead called the melon. When Belugas are born they are typically dark When Belugas are born they are typically dark grey in color, and slowly turn white when they grey in color, and slowly turn white when they

reach maturity. Belugas do not have a dorsal fin reach maturity. Belugas do not have a dorsal fin which makes swimming through the icy water which makes swimming through the icy water

easier, they are also born with teeth which helps easier, they are also born with teeth which helps them grab and tear food apart. Beluga Whales, them grab and tear food apart. Beluga Whales, though they are one of the smallest species of though they are one of the smallest species of

whales, can grow 13- 20 feet in length, weigh up to whales, can grow 13- 20 feet in length, weigh up to 3,300 pounds, and live for 25-30 years.3,300 pounds, and live for 25-30 years.

Beluga Whales: Characteristics,predators,migration, diet, facts.

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: 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.

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.

Beluga fun factsBelugas, 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.

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