Belugas, whales that sing and exfoliate

One of the most recognizable whales, belugas are recognized the world over.  But how much do you really know about these charismatic creatures?  Spruce up your knowledge with these fun facts:

1. Called qilalugaq by Inuit, about 2/3 of the world’s beluga whales live in the Canadian Arctic Ocean and St. Lawrence River.
2. Belugas, who can live to be 40, rub against the fine sediment in river estuaries to help shed their old skin each year.
3. Contaminants from toxic chemicals are absorbed in belugas’ fatty tissue.  In the 1990s, WWF helped address this issue by working to increase regulations on toxics.
4. These “canaries of the sea” are known for their beautiful, song-like vocalizations.  (One whale has even been recorded mimicking human speaking tones!)
5. Increased shipping activity where belugas swim makes for louder oceans, which in turn could affect belugas’ ability to communicate and thrive. Your support helps WWF lead ocean acoustics research to understand this impact.
6. Belugas are one of the most resilient ice whale species (the others are narwhal and bowhead, and increasingly the killer whale).