THE WHITE WHALE PROGRAMME

NEWS

Page: 7 / 9 | Previous | Next

Dmitry Glazov on the results of the expedition to the Sea of Okhotsk

Dmitry Glazov on the results of the expedition to the Sea of Okhotsk

28 January 2014

Read more >>>

Sustainable use of the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) in the North-Okhotsk and West-Kamchatka fishing subzones

Sustainable use of the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) in the North-Okhotsk and West-Kamchatka fishing subzones

22 January 2014

Read more >>>

Testing a motorized paraglider for conducting marine mammal surveys

Testing a motorized paraglider for conducting marine mammal surveys

30 December 2013

Read more >>>

Observations on belugas in Ulbansky Bay, the Okhotsk Sea

Observations on belugas in Ulbansky Bay, the Okhotsk Sea

24 December 2013

Read more >>>

Started preparations for the conference Marine Mammals of the Holarctic

Started preparations for the conference Marine Mammals of the Holarctic

16 December 2013

Read more >>>

New data on white whales in the Sea of Okhotsk

New data on white whales in the Sea of Okhotsk

10 December 2013

Read more >>>

Vsevolod Belkovich reports to the RGS

Vsevolod Belkovich reports to the RGS

19 November 2013

Read more >>>

Vyacheslav Rozhnov: Everyone expects science to be sensational

Vyacheslav Rozhnov: Everyone expects science to be sensational

13 November 2013

Read more >>>

Marine Mammal Council and Russian Geographical Society to publish a monograph on White Sea white whales

Marine Mammal Council and Russian Geographical Society to publish a monograph on White Sea white whales

15 October 2013

Read more >>>

Monitoring of Solovetsky white whale gathering place in the White Sea completed

Monitoring of Solovetsky white whale gathering place in the White Sea completed

8 October 2013

Read more >>>

The Arctic – A Territory of Dialogue forum in Salekhard

The Arctic – A Territory of Dialogue forum in Salekhard

25 September 2013

Read more >>>

The results of beluga whale aerial surveys in the Okhotsk Sea

The results of beluga whale aerial surveys in the Okhotsk Sea

23 September 2013

Read more >>>

Vladimir Putin visits the construction site of the aquarium on Russky Island

Vladimir Putin visits the construction site of the aquarium on Russky Island

1 September 2013

Read more >>>

Expedition underway in the Okhotsk Sea involving researchers of the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution

Expedition underway in the Okhotsk Sea involving researchers of the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution

21 August 2013

Read more >>>

Preliminary results of beluga whale skin analysis

Preliminary results of beluga whale skin analysis

13 August 2013

Read more >>>

Monitoring of beluga whales in Khairuzova, Belogolovaya, Moroshechnaya rivers

Monitoring of beluga whales in Khairuzova, Belogolovaya, Moroshechnaya rivers

8 July 2013

Read more >>>

Social laterality in wild baby beluga whales

Social laterality in wild baby beluga whales

10 June 2013

Read more >>>

White whales and acoustic noise: Observing and registering physiological reactions

White whales and acoustic noise: Observing and registering physiological reactions

8 May 2013

Read more >>>

Lecture on white whales at the Russian Geographical Society

Lecture on white whales at the Russian Geographical Society

15 April 2013

Read more >>>

Analysis of the effect of geographic isolation on the genetic isolation of belugas

Analysis of the effect of geographic isolation on the genetic isolation of belugas

1 April 2013

Read more >>>

Page: 7 / 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