THE WHITE WHALE PROGRAMME

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Six beluga whales and two killer whales from Primorye’s Srednyaya Bay released in the Sea of Okhotsk

Six beluga whales and two killer whales from Primorye’s Srednyaya Bay released in the Sea of Okhotsk

27 August 2019

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Second group of beluga whales from Primorye’s Srednyaya Bay to be released in late August

Second group of beluga whales from Primorye’s Srednyaya Bay to be released in late August

13 August 2019

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Six belugas and two orcas from Srednyaya Bay released in the Khabarovsk Territory

Six belugas and two orcas from Srednyaya Bay released in the Khabarovsk Territory

27 June 2019

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White whales and orcas from Srednyaya Bay brought to the village of Innokentyevka in the Khabarovsk Territory

White whales and orcas from Srednyaya Bay brought to the village of Innokentyevka in the Khabarovsk Territory

25 June 2019

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White whales and orcas from Srednyaya Bay doing well in transit before release in Sea of Okhotsk

White whales and orcas from Srednyaya Bay doing well in transit before release in Sea of Okhotsk

24 June 2019

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Six white whales leave Srednyaya Bay for release in the Sea of Okhotsk

Six white whales leave Srednyaya Bay for release in the Sea of Okhotsk

20 June 2019

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Bill to increase penalties for illegal hunting of valuable animals and exploitation of living aquatic resources passes first reading in State Duma

Bill to increase penalties for illegal hunting of valuable animals and exploitation of living aquatic resources passes first reading in State Duma

27 May 2019

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Researchers conduct genetic analysis of belugas from Srednyaya Bay

Researchers conduct genetic analysis of belugas from Srednyaya Bay

16 May 2019

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White whales from Srednyaya Bay to be released in the Sea of Okhotsk no earlier than June

White whales from Srednyaya Bay to be released in the Sea of Okhotsk no earlier than June

30 April 2019

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RGS believes it necessary to continue white whale research

RGS believes it necessary to continue white whale research

25 April 2019

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Experts assess Srednyaya Bay white whales’ health

Experts assess Srednyaya Bay white whales’ health

1 April 2019

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Centre for large marine mammals to appear in Russky Island bay

Centre for large marine mammals to appear in Russky Island bay

5 March 2019

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Environmentalists: White wales from Srednyaya Bay may be released into natural habitats after rehabilitation

Environmentalists: White wales from Srednyaya Bay may be released into natural habitats after rehabilitation

26 February 2019

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Vladimir Putin issues instruction to address management, utilisation and upkeep of marine mammals

Vladimir Putin issues instruction to address management, utilisation and upkeep of marine mammals

22 February 2019

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White whales from Srednyaya Bay to return to their natural habitat

White whales from Srednyaya Bay to return to their natural habitat

7 February 2019

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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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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