Beluga Whale

28 Oct 2024 12:36:23 pm

Tags : Beluga Whale

Topic: Biodiversity

Why in the news?

A beluga whale was found dead in Norway, prompting speculations about intentional killing.
Animal rights groups are calling for a criminal investigation, citing evidence of gunshot wounds. Experts support claims of a deliberate act leading to his death.

Source: Livemint

About Beluga Whale:

It is an Arctic and sub-Arctic cetacean.
It is one of two members of the family Monodontidae, along with the narwhal, and the only member of the genus Delphinapterus.
It is also known as:
white whale, as it is the only cetacean to regularly occur with this colour
sea canary, due to its high-pitched calls
melonhead
It inhabits a discontinuous circumpolar distribution in Arctic and sub-Arctic waters.
- During the summer, they can mainly be found in deep waters ranging from 76°N to 80°N, particularly along the coasts of Alaska, northern Canada, western Greenland and northern Russia.
- The southernmost extent of their range includes isolated populations in the St. Lawrence River in the Atlantic, and the Amur River delta, the Shantar Islands and the waters surrounding Sakhalin Island in the Sea of Okhotsk.