Beluga Whales

July 2006 -- Marineland is a theme park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Besides rides -- we went on a wooden roller coaster -- there were various animal displays. Most notable was the Beluga Whales. When we were there (my niece and I) we saw a Beluga Whale born. That was one of the highlights of our trip. The pictures I took of the Beluga Whales have proven to be quite popular on my Flickr™ site.

Baby Belugas

Surfacing

Beluga whales are small white whales that are native to the cold waters of the Arctic. They are very social and form groups called pods. They are about 5 feet at birth (90-130 lbs) and grow to 11 to 15 feet long (1000-3300 lbs). They generally give birth to one calf every 2-3 years. Gestation is 14 months. Mothers nurse their calves for 2 years. Belugas are nicknamed the "sea canary" due to the many sounds they make. 

Group of Beluga Whales

Belugas are the only whale that can bend their necks.

Since our visit in 2006, Marineland has been mired in controversy, accused of not taking good care of the animals in its care, including the marine animals. The future of the park is uncertain. I'm glad we got to see the Beluga Whales when we did. They seemed to be getting good care at the time. I suspect expansion of the park (in pursuit of profits) has led to unacceptable conditions for the animals. The park is probably also the target of radical animals rights groups. I think it is important to keep some animals in captivity for the purpose of education and conservation, but it needs to be done properly.