THE WHITE WHALE PROGRAMME

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Scientists mull returning white whales from Srednyaya Bay to the wild

Scientists mull returning white whales from Srednyaya Bay to the wild

30 November 2018

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Environment Ministry blocks export of 25 white whales from Primorye abroad

Environment Ministry blocks export of 25 white whales from Primorye abroad

13 November 2018

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10th Marine Mammals of the Holarctic International Conference to be held in Arkhangelsk

10th Marine Mammals of the Holarctic International Conference to be held in Arkhangelsk

28 September 2018

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Mitochondrial Lineages of the Beluga Whale Delphinapterus leucas in the Russian Arctic

Mitochondrial Lineages of the Beluga Whale Delphinapterus leucas in the Russian Arctic

28 August 2018

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The mystery of white whales

The mystery of white whales

19 July 2018

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White whale predicts victory for the Russian team in the first FIFA World Cup match

White whale predicts victory for the Russian team in the first FIFA World Cup match

13 June 2018

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White whales to take part in A Midsummer Night’s Dream musical at Moskvarium

White whales to take part in A Midsummer Night’s Dream musical at Moskvarium

8 June 2018

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Researchers to study acoustic signals of beluga whales at Primorsky Oceanarium

Researchers to study acoustic signals of beluga whales at Primorsky Oceanarium

7 June 2018

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Baby white whale saved near Alaska

Baby white whale saved near Alaska

19 April 2018

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Migratory culture, population structure and stock identity in North Pacific beluga whales

Migratory culture, population structure and stock identity in North Pacific beluga whales

28 March 2018

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Khabarovsk Territory and Kamchatka celebrate Marine Mammal Protection Day

Khabarovsk Territory and Kamchatka celebrate Marine Mammal Protection Day

19 February 2018

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Alexander Agafonov: Deciphering the language of beluga whales is a matter of the future

Alexander Agafonov: Deciphering the language of beluga whales is a matter of the future

6 February 2018

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White whales from Primorye Oceanarium refuse to take a break

White whales from Primorye Oceanarium refuse to take a break

16 December 2017

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White whales of Primorye Oceanarium go on 2-week break

White whales of Primorye Oceanarium go on 2-week break

12 December 2017

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Beluga whales take part in charity event for children

Beluga whales take part in charity event for children

5 December 2017

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White whale learns to speak dolphin in Crimea

White whale learns to speak dolphin in Crimea

9 November 2017

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Roman Belikov: White whales eager to “talk” to scientists

Roman Belikov: White whales eager to “talk” to scientists

19 October 2017

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Beluga whales hear their own recorded signals for the first time

Beluga whales hear their own recorded signals for the first time

3 October 2017

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Primorsky Aquarium visitors to spend time with white whales on 3 September

Primorsky Aquarium visitors to spend time with white whales on 3 September

1 September 2017

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White whale caught in fishing nets rescued by an emergency response team in Kamchatka

White whale caught in fishing nets rescued by an emergency response team in Kamchatka

3 August 2017

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69 photos

The white whale (also known as belukha whale) is a member of the Monodontidae family, suborder Odontoceti, and order Cetacea

The Belukha-White Whale Programme aims to study the distribution range, seasonal migrations and the number of white whales in Russian seas and also, their habitat, feeding patterns and their relationships with other cetacean species

Several species of large mammals that are seen as especially important and symbolic for Russia, in particular the white whale, have been chosen for research as part of the White Whale Programme

The aerial survey programme helped researchers compile a large database of photo and video materials about the life of white whales

Adult white whales can measure up to six metres and weigh up to two metric tonnes. White whale calves are grey, but at full maturity a few years later they become almost completely white

In the White Sea, belukhas are noted for the vast span of their migrations, with only a small number of the mammals remaining in the same area throughout the year and the rest migrating to the Barents Sea and the Kara Sea in winter

The belukha inhabits waters of different temperatures, ranging from freezing waters in winter to 32°C in summer

Russian waters have three major groups of whales which some zoologists consider to be three different subspecies: namely those inhabiting the White Sea, the Kara Sea and the Far Eastern waters

The belukha is one of the most numerous Arctic marine mammal species. They inhabit the coastal waters of the Arctic, as well as of the White Sea, the Barents Sea, the Bering Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk

The belukhas kept in zoos are trained with the use of special programs for interaction with veterinarians, scientific experiments, shows at aquariums and dolphin therapy

Aquariums and zoos in Russia and elsewhere take about 20 belukhas annually. These animals should be healthy and well adapted to captivity

The belukha whales feed mainly on fish, particularly schooling species such as cod, herring, plaice and salmon species, but they also eat shellfish and cuttlefish. An adult whale consumes near 15 kilograms of food daily

Female white whale Yulia

Male white whale Platon

White whale training at Moscow Zoo

Male white whale Platon

White whale training at Moscow Zoo

White whale training at Moscow Zoo

White whale training at Moscow Zoo

White whale training at Moscow Zoo

White whale training at Moscow Zoo

White whale training at Moscow Zoo

White whale training at Moscow Zoo

White whale training at Moscow Zoo

White whale training at Moscow Zoo

White whale training at Moscow Zoo

White whale training at Moscow Zoo

White whales and dolphins playing

White whales and dolphins playing

White whale training at Moscow Zoo

Scientists working on the White Whale Programme place transmitters onto white whales

Scientists working on the White Whale Programme place transmitters onto white whales

Scientists working on the White Whale Programme place transmitters onto white whales

Scientists working on the White Whale Programme place transmitters onto white whales

Scientists working on the White Whale Programme place transmitters onto white whales

White whales can be identified by photograph thanks to their scars. These scar patterns, unique to each whale, are easy to see on their white back, tail and sides

White whales can be identified by photograph thanks to their scars. These scar patterns, unique to each whale, are easy to see on their white back, tail and sides

White whales can be identified by photograph thanks to their scars. These scar patterns, unique to each whale, are easy to see on their white back, tail and sides

White whales can be identified by photograph thanks to their scars. These scar patterns, unique to each whale, are easy to see on their white back, tail and sides

White whales can be identified by photograph thanks to their scars. These scar patterns, unique to each whale, are easy to see on their white back, tail and sides

White whales can be identified by photograph thanks to their scars. These scar patterns, unique to each whale, are easy to see on their white back, tail and sides

White whales are cute, lovable animals. They are easy to train, which is why they often become the stars of sea-life centres and dolphinaria

White whales are cute, lovable animals. They are easy to train, which is why they often become the stars of sea-life centres and dolphinaria

Aerial studies help scientists monitor white whales’ seasonal migration in Russia’s seas

Aerial studies help scientists monitor white whales’ seasonal migration in Russia’s seas

Wild white whales in the White Sea (August 2011,aerial record-keeping footage)

Wild white whales in the White Sea (August 2011,aerial record-keeping footage)

Beluga whales gather off Beluga Cape to mate, give birth to and raise their calves

Whale calves are very active, they like chasing one another and jumping out of the water

Adult whales are also fond of jumping out of the water, but as a rule, do so only during the mating season

The Solovetsky mating waters for beluga whales are unique in that the mammals swim very close to the shore and spend a long time here most days

Beluga whales gather off Beluga Cape in May and spend the entire summer there, leaving around the end of September

Beluga whales gather off Beluga Cape in May and spend the entire summer there, leaving around the end of September

The Solovetsky mating waters for beluga whales are unique in that the mammals swim very close to the shore and spend a long time here most days

Whale calves are very active, they like chasing one another and jumping out of the water

Beluga Cape at Solovetsky Island in the White Sea is a beluga whale mating area

Beluga whales gather off Beluga Cape to mate, give birth to and raise their calves

The Solovetsky mating waters for beluga whales are very vulnerable since they are the site where fundamental biological processes take place such as mating and birth

Beluga whales gather off Beluga Cape to mate, give birth to and raise their calves

White whale at the Moscow Zoo

White whale at the Moscow Zoo

White whale at the Moscow Zoo

White whale at the Moscow Zoo

White whale at the Moscow Zoo

White whale at the Moscow Zoo

White whale at the Moscow Zoo

White whale at the Moscow Zoo

White whale at the Moscow Zoo

White whale at the Moscow Zoo

3 videos