Discover 10 fascinating facts about belugas, the iconic “canaries of the sea,” as we dive into their quirky habits, surprising adventures, and even covert missions.
10 Fascinating Facts About Belugas
10 One Visited The Thames
Belugas normally call the icy Arctic home, yet a lone individual decided to turn the tide and drift into the River Thames in the United Kingdom. Dubbed “Benny,” the white‑skinned wanderer sparked a frenzy of attention when he appeared in 2018, looking like a sub‑adult that had simply taken a wrong turn somewhere upstream.
During his Thames escapade, Benny spent days feeding and meandering through the historic waterway while onlookers gathered along the banks, and animal‑welfare groups kept a constant watch. The Port of London Authority even granted the whale the right of way, urging vessels to steer clear of the unexpected guest.
Authorities reminded boat operators and commercial traffic to give Benny plenty of space, noting that belugas are as comfortable in rivers as they are in open ocean—perhaps explaining his fascination with the Thames. In fact, Benny lingered for several months, turning an accidental visit into a memorable chapter of beluga lore.
9 They Experience Menopause
Humans share an unusual biological quirk with a select few whale species—menopause. In 2018 researchers uncovered that both narwhals and belugas cease reproducing well before the end of their lives, expanding the exclusive club that already includes humans, orcas, and short‑finned pilot whales.
This discovery raises intriguing questions about why a species would stop producing offspring while still having decades of life ahead. Evolutionarily, a post‑reproductive female could still pack a punch by acting as a grandmother, guiding younger kin with experience and resources.
Anthropologists have amassed evidence suggesting that grandmothers play a pivotal role in boosting the survival of grandchildren, offering knowledge and time that busy parents might lack. In many whale societies, older females may provide similar benefits, though the remote habitats of belugas and narwhals make long‑term observation challenging.
Orca mothers have been observed feeding their adult sons, possibly to increase the sons’ reproductive success. Unfortunately, the isolated Arctic environments where belugas and narwhals roam hinder comprehensive multigenerational studies, leaving scientists to speculate on the exact advantages of whale menopause.
8 A Natural Retirement Home
Little Grey and Little White were both born and raised in captivity, spending seven years entertaining visitors at a Chinese water park. Their existence in a concrete tank sparked criticism from animal‑rights advocates, who argued that such artificial habitats were far from ideal.
Transitioning these performers back to the open ocean was no simple feat; releasing a captive‑born beluga directly into the wild would almost certainly result in death. Enter the Sea Life Trust, which pioneered a world‑first sanctuary—a sprawling open‑sea haven designed specifically for retired marine mammals.
Situated in the sheltered bay near Heimaey, an Icelandic island, the 32,000‑square‑meter (344,000 ft²) sanctuary welcomed Grey and White in 2019. After undergoing survival training, the duo—both 12 years old—joined the first cohort of retired entertainers, embarking on what could be a four‑decade‑long chapter of freedom and safety.
7 Cat Poop Is A Danger
Between 2009 and 2012, a grim tally of 34 belugas perished in Canada’s St. Lawrence Estuary. In 2018, scientists scrutinized the hearts and brains of those whales, searching for the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, the culprit behind toxoplasmosis—a disease that can wreak havoc on the nervous systems of marine mammals.
Testing revealed that 15 of the examined belugas carried the parasite. T. gondii, a common feline parasite, often spreads via cat feces. Marine animals inhabiting coastal zones near freshwater outflows, like the St. Lawrence pod, appear especially vulnerable to this contamination.
Many pet owners unknowingly contribute to the problem by flushing cat litter down the toilet. The resilient oocysts survive standard sewage treatment and can travel downstream, eventually reaching the ocean. Although the parasite has also been linked to fatalities in monk seals and sea otters, researchers could not definitively attribute the 15 beluga deaths to toxoplasmosis.
6 Beluga Bubbles
At Marineland of Canada, a dedicated eight‑year study observed 44 belugas to decode the whimsical side of their communication. The researchers discovered that bubble‑blowing isn’t merely play—it appears to carry distinct meanings.
Bubble production is a rarity in the wild, making the captive observations especially valuable. While captivity could influence behavior, the scientists noted consistent patterns that suggest purposeful signaling.
Different bubble types seem to reflect varied emotional states. Females, for instance, are more prone to releasing playful bubble rings or a gentle froth of tiny bubbles. The most striking display involves a massive bubble ring that a beluga will swim right through, showcasing both skill and intent.
Marineland’s belugas actively manipulate these bubbles—shooting water jets at the rings or flicking them with their tails. When threatened, they can forcefully expel bubbles from their blowholes, using the plume as a clear warning to potential aggressors.
Some bubble behaviors remain a mystery. Researchers are still puzzled by why male belugas sometimes cruise side‑by‑side while emitting a steady stream of bubbles, a pattern that defies current interpretation.
5 The Honorary Beluga
In 2018, a research team ventured into Canada’s St. Lawrence River to study beluga social dynamics. Anticipating a bachelor pod of mostly male whales, they were taken aback by the presence of an unexpected newcomer—a young male narwhal.
The beluga group appeared to adopt the horned visitor, treating him as one of their own. The narwhal, sporting a dark gray body and a distinctive tusk, joined the pod’s games and interactions, despite normally inhabiting waters 965 km (600 mi) north of the river.
Unique markings on the narwhal’s skin allowed scientists to confirm that it was the same individual observed frolicking with the St. Lawrence pod in 2016 and 2017. This long‑term bond is extraordinary, as inter‑species interactions between belugas and narwhals are typically fleeting.
4 The Dolphin‑Speaking Beluga
In 2013, a bottlenose dolphin group at the Dolphinarium Koktebel in Crimea was startled by the arrival of a beluga whale. The newcomer’s stark white form seemed to alarm the dolphins, and her vocalizations were unlike anything the pod had heard before.
Within a couple of months, the beluga began mimicking dolphin whistles, gradually abandoning her native beluga calls. She even adopted the signature whistles that dolphins use as individual identifiers, effectively learning the “names” of her tank‑mates.
This remarkable linguistic shift underscores the beluga’s reputation as a powerful mimic and highly social creature eager to fit in. While researchers can’t yet determine how much of the beluga’s new repertoire stems from genuine understanding versus pure imitation, the dolphins clearly accepted their pale companion without attempting to copy her original language.
3 The Whale Jail
Belugas, prized for their beauty, have become hot commodities for some unscrupulous aquarium operators. A recent investigation uncovered a clandestine facility along the Russian coast that housed over 100 illegally poached cetaceans, including 11 orcas and a staggering 90 belugas.
Reports indicated that the captured whales were slated for Chinese theme parks, a practice prohibited by international law. Video footage of the cramped enclosures ignited global outrage, especially after it emerged that an orca and three belugas vanished—presumed dead—amid the overcrowded conditions.
The Russian government, in partnership with two environmental NGOs, agreed to rehabilitate and eventually release the remaining whales, a delicate process given the number of juveniles still present.
Despite the collaborative rescue effort, officials warned that the black‑market demand for belugas and orcas remains alarmingly high; a single killer whale can fetch up to $6 million, fueling continued illegal trade.
2 The Amazing Noc
Picture this: you’re diving at the National Marine Mammal Foundation in San Diego, and the only voice you hear isn’t a dolphin click but a beluga named Noc trying to mimic human conversation. This astonishing episode unfolded in 1984 when researchers detected strange “human‑like” sounds echoing from the tank where dolphins and whales cohabited.
Investigators traced the source to Noc after a diver overheard the word “out” emanating from the whale. It turned out that Noc had been eavesdropping on staff chatter and had started reproducing a handful of words.
Encouraged by treats, the beluga repeated the human phrases into a recorder. Detailed analysis showed that Noc manipulated parts of his anatomy not typically used for whale communication—adjusting nasal‑tract pressure, employing lip‑like valves, and over‑inflating air sacs beneath his blowhole—to produce the novel sounds.
Scientists had never before documented a cetacean generating vocalizations so reminiscent of human speech rhythm. Though belugas are already dubbed “canaries of the sea” for their vocal prowess, Noc’s achievement remains a standout example of cross‑species mimicry.
1 The Russian Agent
In 2019, a group of Norwegian fishermen encountered an unexpected visitor—a lone beluga that approached their vessels with an almost dog‑like demeanor. The surprise deepened when they noticed the whale was outfitted with a harness, reminiscent of a leashed pet.
Curious and cautious, the fishermen summoned marine biologists, who coaxed the harness‑clad beluga closer with generous portions of cod. While the whale feasted, a diver managed to remove the equipment, discovering a camera mount and a label reading “Equipment of St. Petersburg.”
Contact with Russian authorities confirmed that the gear likely belonged to a Russian military program. The Russian government has historically shown interest in deploying marine mammals for tasks such as guarding naval installations, deterring intruders, and assisting divers.
It appears this particular beluga escaped from a covert operation, providing a rare glimpse into the secretive world of marine‑based espionage.