THE WHITE WHALE PROGRAMME

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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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Marine mammal conservation festival established in Kamchatka

Marine mammal conservation festival established in Kamchatka

26 July 2017

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Scientists count sea mammals from helicopter

Scientists count sea mammals from helicopter

2 June 2017

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Primorsky Aquarium to cooperate with Lotte World Aquarium

Primorsky Aquarium to cooperate with Lotte World Aquarium

2 May 2017

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Satellite tags offer new opportunities for white whale research

Satellite tags offer new opportunities for white whale research

7 April 2017

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Study of white whales’ acoustic signals launched in the White Sea

Study of white whales’ acoustic signals launched in the White Sea

10 March 2017

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Travelling with White Whales and Tagging to be screened at the Darwin Museum

Travelling with White Whales and Tagging to be screened at the Darwin Museum

28 February 2017

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Dmitry Glazov: Researchers to learn the language of white whales

Dmitry Glazov: Researchers to learn the language of white whales

18 February 2017

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Tagging to be screened at Russia’s Primeval Nature festival

Tagging to be screened at Russia’s Primeval Nature festival

17 January 2017

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Scientists discuss beluga whale behaviour, research and management

Scientists discuss beluga whale behaviour, research and management

20 December 2016

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9th Marine Mammals of the Holarctic International Conference

9th Marine Mammals of the Holarctic International Conference

14 November 2016

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White Whales Hunting Salmon to be screened at a scientific conference

White Whales Hunting Salmon to be screened at a scientific conference

6 October 2016

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White Sea beluga whales counted using quadcopters

White Sea beluga whales counted using quadcopters

27 September 2016

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Another step forward for white whale research in the Kara Sea

Another step forward for white whale research in the Kara Sea

14 September 2016

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Primorye Oceanarium visitors watch white whale training

Primorye Oceanarium visitors watch white whale training

7 September 2016

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Vladimir Putin visited the Primorye Oceanarium

Vladimir Putin visited the Primorye Oceanarium

3 September 2016

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Primorye Oceanarium to open on 6 September

Primorye Oceanarium to open on 6 September

29 August 2016

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23 July: World Whale and Dolphin Day

23 July: World Whale and Dolphin Day

21 July 2016

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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