THE WHITE WHALE PROGRAMME

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What the silence of white whales tells us

What the silence of white whales tells us

13 July 2015

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“Talking to White Whales” screens at Darwin Museum

“Talking to White Whales” screens at Darwin Museum

27 April 2015

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White whales to help monitor the health of Arctic ecosystems

White whales to help monitor the health of Arctic ecosystems

9 April 2015

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Tales of the white whale

Tales of the white whale

27 February 2015

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World Whale Day, 19 February

World Whale Day, 19 February

18 February 2015

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Visit to Primorye Oceanarium

Visit to Primorye Oceanarium

13 November 2014

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Talking with Beluga Whales film trailer released

Talking with Beluga Whales film trailer released

24 October 2014

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Eighth International Conference Marine Mammals of the Holarctic

Eighth International Conference Marine Mammals of the Holarctic

22 September 2014

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A kite for whales

A kite for whales

8 September 2014

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White whale research season ends in White Sea

White whale research season ends in White Sea

5 September 2014

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Talking with Beluga Whales educational film to be released in December

Talking with Beluga Whales educational film to be released in December

8 August 2014

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Roundtable on scientific exploration of the Arctic

Roundtable on scientific exploration of the Arctic

22 July 2014

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Application of photo identification approach to white whales in Moroshechnaya and Hayruzovo estuaries

Application of photo identification approach to white whales in Moroshechnaya and Hayruzovo estuaries

16 June 2014

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New data were recorded on the distribution of white whales in the Kara and Barents seas near Vaygach Island

New data were recorded on the distribution of white whales in the Kara and Barents seas near Vaygach Island

19 May 2014

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Dasha beluga whale: Removal of transmitter attached in 2009

Dasha beluga whale: Removal of transmitter attached in 2009

24 April 2014

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Algorithm for white whales number estimation on data of aerial survey

16 April 2014

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Beluga whale in Far Eastern seas: mtDNA lines assortment and distribution

21 March 2014

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Dmitry Glazov speaks about beluga training

Dmitry Glazov speaks about beluga training

5 March 2014

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A media event: Will beluga whales be safe on Solovetsky Islands?

A media event: Will beluga whales be safe on Solovetsky Islands?

19 February 2014

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Effect of intensive noise signals on the auditory sensitivity of the be-luga whale

Effect of intensive noise signals on the auditory sensitivity of the be-luga whale

7 February 2014

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Page: 6 / 9 | Previous | Next

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