A pod of beluga whales surfacing as they swim through the Churchill River. — AP
BELUGA whales are bringing joy and healing to Hudson Bay as they frolic in the waters, chirping and clicking in a changing environment.
In Canada’s far north, these playful creatures provide a much-needed boost to the local economy and community, which are grappling with the impacts of climate change, including melting sea ice and a diminishing polar bear population.
During the summer months, as many as 4,000 belugas can be seen swimming along the Churchill River, which flows into Hudson Bay.
“It’s hard to find a place where you don’t see them. It’s in their nature to be curious and social,” said whale biologist Valeria Vergara, a senior scientist at the Raincoast Conservation Foundation.
Vergara refers to the belugas as “the social butterflies of the whale world”, and their presence is crucial for the town of Churchill, Manitoba, which relies on wildlife tourism for economic stability.
The indigenous community of Churchill is facing a challenge as polar bear tourism declines, due to the animals’ shrinking numbers.
The community is hopeful that belugas will attract summer tourists. However, their survival is threatened by the same climate-related changes affecting polar bears and the Arctic ecosystem.
Greene (left) leading a paddleboarding tour on the Churchill River. — AP
Belugas have an innate ability to heal. Erin Greene, who was attacked by a polar bear in 2013, can attest to this.
Greene avoids discussing the details of the attack but has opened up about the impact it had on her mental health.
She recalls how the attack left her grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“Contact with the sociable whales helped pull me out of it,” Greene said.
Now, she paddles out on a paddleboard to sing and connect with the belugas.
Greene also rents paddleboards to tourists, allowing them to share in the transformative experience.
“Moving through the various stages of dealing with trauma has been essential for my healing,” Greene explained.
When she brings customers into the water, mere inches from the whales, they too experience a profound sense of joy.
“I’ve never seen an animal, except maybe puppies, bring that amount of joy to people,” she remarked. “Everyone’s smiling when they get off the water. It’s the whales that provide that joy.”
The connection between Greene and the belugas runs deep.
She often sings to them, including songs like Yellow Submarine by The Beatles and Husavik (My Hometown) from the Will Ferrell Eurovision film.
Greene believes that the whales respond to her presence and energy.
“With the beluga whales, there’s a different connection than with any other animal because they genuinely choose to socialise with you. They want to play.”
Vergara echoes this sentiment, noting the similarities between human and beluga behaviours.
“They form communities and networks, cooperate, and help raise each other’s young. They’re unbelievably vocal – probably one of the most acoustically active mammals on Earth,” she said.
Unlike humpback whales, whose songs have rhythm and pattern, beluga vocalisations resemble a cacophony of clicks and whistles.
Vergara describes it as being “dropped into a noisy festival”.
“You can’t help but wonder what they’re communicating with each other,” she added. “They absolutely rely on sound to maintain their complex societies.”
Research shows that each beluga has a distinct call used for communication, akin to a name.
Young belugas take years to learn their parents’ calls, while related whales develop similar sounds, much like a family name.
Belugas are often referred to as the “canaries of the sea” due to their vocal nature.
However, this nickname also highlights the potential risks they face from environmental changes, according to Vergara.
“The disappearing ice is going to affect them. We don’t know how they’re going to react to shifts in water temperature, food availability, or prey distribution.”
The reduction in sea ice is altering the base of the Arctic food chain, impacting plankton populations. This, in turn, affects the availability of Arctic cod, a crucial food source for belugas.
Pierre Richard, a beluga expert from the Northern Studies Centre in Churchill, warns that while the beluga population in Hudson Bay is currently large, concerns remain about its adaptability to these changes.
“Whether belugas in Hudson Bay are suffering from these ecosystem changes is unclear,” Richard said.
Although belugas are not classified as endangered, certain populations, such as those in Alaska, are at risk.
With approximately 200,000 belugas globally, the International Union for Conservation of Nature categorises them as a species of “least concern.”
However, Vergara emphasises the importance of cultural preservation, stating, “The threat to animal cultures can happen much quicker than the extinction of an entire species. If subpopulations of belugas are wiped out, their cultures disappear too. It’s like losing a human language or culture. We should care.”
As the community of Churchill navigates the challenges posed by climate change, they hold onto hope that the beloved belugas will continue to thrive and bring joy to all who encounter them.
The future may be uncertain, but the bond between humans and these incredible marine mammals offers a glimpse of resilience and healing in the face of adversity. — AP
