THE WHITE WHALE PROGRAMME

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The long-term impact of oil pollution on the southern local herd of white whales (Delphinapterus leucas)

The long-term impact of oil pollution on the southern local herd of white whales (Delphinapterus leucas)

25 August 2020

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Beluga whale settles near Russky Island

Beluga whale settles near Russky Island

27 July 2020

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Beluga whales from Srednyaya Bay keep active in coastal waters

Beluga whales from Srednyaya Bay keep active in coastal waters

17 May 2020

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Scientists continue to monitor Srednyaya Bay beluga whales via satellite tags

Scientists continue to monitor Srednyaya Bay beluga whales via satellite tags

16 March 2020

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19 February: Marine Mammal Protection Day

19 February: Marine Mammal Protection Day

19 February 2020

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Beluga whales released in Uspeniya Bay adapt to life in the wild

Beluga whales released in Uspeniya Bay adapt to life in the wild

16 December 2019

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Beluga whales released into Sea of Japan swim along Primorye Territory coast

Beluga whales released into Sea of Japan swim along Primorye Territory coast

13 November 2019

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Final white whales released from the ‘whale prison’ in Primorye Territory

Final white whales released from the ‘whale prison’ in Primorye Territory

10 November 2019

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Nineteen white whales from Srednyaya Bay released into the wild in Uspeniya Bay

Nineteen white whales from Srednyaya Bay released into the wild in Uspeniya Bay

8 November 2019

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Fifty beluga whales from Srednyaya Bay to be released into the Sea of Japan before 1 November

Fifty beluga whales from Srednyaya Bay to be released into the Sea of Japan before 1 November

25 October 2019

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Eleven beluga whales from Srednyaya Bay released into the Sakhalin Gulf

Eleven beluga whales from Srednyaya Bay released into the Sakhalin Gulf

23 October 2019

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14 beluga whales from Srednyaya Bay released in the Sea of Okhotsk

14 beluga whales from Srednyaya Bay released in the Sea of Okhotsk

4 October 2019

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Expert: Transportation of the remaining Srednyaya Bay beluga whales must be speeded up

Expert: Transportation of the remaining Srednyaya Bay beluga whales must be speeded up

20 September 2019

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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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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