THE WHITE WHALE PROGRAMME

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The beluga whale migrations along the Chukotka Peninsula: results of coastal observations

The beluga whale migrations along the Chukotka Peninsula: results of coastal observations

15 March 2013

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Marine Mammal Council and Russian Geographical Society unite efforts to preserve and study polar bears and white whales in the Russian Arctic

Marine Mammal Council and Russian Geographical Society unite efforts to preserve and study polar bears and white whales in the Russian Arctic

12 March 2013

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Photo-identification of beluga whales in Tigil’ski region of Western Kamchatka

Photo-identification of beluga whales in Tigil’ski region of Western Kamchatka

19 February 2013

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Acoustic communications between beluga whales

Acoustic communications between beluga whales

5 February 2013

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Researcher talks about life of white whales in captivity

Researcher talks about life of white whales in captivity

14 January 2013

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Animals at the Primorsky Aquarium Prepare to welcome visitors

Animals at the Primorsky Aquarium Prepare to welcome visitors

30 December 2012

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Scientists catch twelve beluga whales for dolphinariums

Scientists catch twelve beluga whales for dolphinariums

28 September 2012

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Vladimir Putin inspected the construction of the oceanarium on Russky Island

Vladimir Putin inspected the construction of the oceanarium on Russky Island

7 September 2012

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The sounds of the Beluga white whale

The sounds of the Beluga white whale

22 August 2012

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Pesticides found in the tissue of beluga white whales living near Solovki

Pesticides found in the tissue of beluga white whales living near Solovki

22 August 2012

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Beluga - White Whale photo exhibition opens in Kaliningrad

Beluga - White Whale photo exhibition opens in Kaliningrad

12 July 2012

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Climate Change exhibition opens at Darwin Museum

Climate Change exhibition opens at Darwin Museum

1 February 2012

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Another stage of complex expedition ends in Russia’s Far East

Another stage of complex expedition ends in Russia’s Far East

26 January 2012

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Moscow hosts the international exhibition, World Ocean 2011

Moscow hosts the international exhibition, World Ocean 2011

5 December 2011

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White Guard. Interview with Dmitry Glazov, the deputy head of the Beluga White Whale Programme at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution (IPEE RAS)

White Guard. Interview with Dmitry Glazov, the deputy head of the Beluga White Whale Programme at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution (IPEE RAS)

14 October 2011

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The main question is, to what school do the white whales of the Ulban Bay belong?

The main question is, to what school do the white whales of the Ulban Bay belong?

30 September 2011

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Vladimir Putin visits oceanarium in Far East

Vladimir Putin visits oceanarium in Far East

8 September 2011

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Specialists hold comprehensive aerial surveys of sea mammals in White, Barents and Pechora seas

Specialists hold comprehensive aerial surveys of sea mammals in White, Barents and Pechora seas

1 September 2011

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Research ship Ivan Petrov completes expedition

Research ship Ivan Petrov completes expedition

29 August 2011

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Specialists hold Okhotsk Sea expedition

Specialists hold Okhotsk Sea expedition

1 August 2011

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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