The beluga whale has the largest vocal range of all cetaceans. Typically an Arctic dweller, this whale also lives in the St. Lawrence where it survived an intense hunting period that ended in the 1950s, and where it must now struggle to survive in a highly toxic environment.
St. Lawrence beluga "Science
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Whenever I spot Alpha and Virgule in the Saguenay River, I expect to see Tesna, Galubé or even Twik and Dl.114 nearby. These belugas are part of a pod. They are regular visitors to the Saguenay. Their behaviour and size lead me to believe they are all male belugas. During the summer they are rarely seen with young, and they don’t often mix with other pods.
From the surface, it is very difficult to distinguish males from females. One way to determine gender is by looking at the whale's genital slit. Using an underwater window placed over the side of the boat, we try to catch sight of the belugas' genital slits as they pass by. Unfortunately, the poor visibility of the estuarine waters reduces our success rate considerably. Since 1994, skin samples are taken from belugas to examine their DNA and determine their gender. Through the use of this technique we have identified over twenty females, such as Slash and Yogi, whose life stories can now be closely monitored. These females usually gather in small herds accompanied by a number of young. Each whale seems to prefer a specific part of the summer range and returns to it every year.
What is the nature of these pods? Why do they segregate in summer? These simple questions form the basis of our work with the St. Lawrence belugas. Since the beginning of our research program in 1985, we have managed to identify over 200 belugas, nearly a quarter of the population. Around 50 of them have become veritable "informants." By following groups and observing their behaviour, we have built up a file on each of them. Their stories are just now starting to reveal their social structure and distribution in the Estuary.
We have recorded movement patterns, as well as routes belugas use to travel from one area to another. By timing their movements, they can take advantage of strong currents in the Estuary. These currents often create riptides near islands or at the base of capes that trap small marine organisms. Frequently visited by belugas, these natural traps are possibly a good, predictable source of food. We have estimated that a beluga requires approximately 12 kg of food per day. Thanks in part to their detailed knowledge of their habitat and their efficient hunting techniques, belugas don’t have to spend very much time satisfying their daily requirements. In fact, travelling, resting and socializing seem to take up most of their time.
Hunting St. Lawrence beluga whales ended 20 years ago. They have no known predator and, for animals with such a diverse diet, the availability of food is surely not a limitation. It is tempting to think that they have it easy. Several seasons and hundreds of hours spent observing these small, white whales have left us with this impression. This could be due to their permanent smile, their chubbiness or their colour. Or maybe it’s their curious nature. The beluga, unlike other whales, has the ability to turn its head to look behind or below. When they swim beneath the boat, this movement of their head shows their interest. When they approach the boat and our eyes meet, we begin to wonder what is behind that smile. One gets the feeling they haven’t a care in the world!
