Beluga whales are majestic cetaceans found in the Arctic and sub-arctic waters. They are incredibly social and friendly in nature. Belugas are known to show a high level of curiosity towards humans. They are known for swimming up close alongside boats in the wild, and approaching tanks windows in captivity to observe humans. Here we gathered all information about the friendly nature of beluga whales towards each other and humans.
Are Beluga Whales Friendly to Humans?
Beluga whales are known to be incredibly social and friendly in nature. They are known to interact with humans in various ways, such as; allowing people to rub them in a gentle and loving way, swimming up close alongside boats, and even trying to interact with divers. Their great curiosity towards humans make them an accessible species of whales available for observation and interaction by scientists and tourists.
Beluga whales live in groups known as pods. A pod may have 2 to 25 individuals with an average of 10 members. The pods of beluga whales tend to be unstable and individuals move from one pod to another. Their pods are of three types; nurseries (mother and calves), bachelors (which have only males), and mixed groups (which have individuals of both sexes, males and females).
Also Read: How smart are Beluga Whales?
During the summer, when they move towards river estuaries, many hundreds and even thousands of belugas can be present in a single region. At that time, they are highly vulnerable to being hunted.
Belugas are highly cooperative creatures and hunt in coordinated groups. Every animal in a pod is highly social and usually chases each other when playing or fighting. They also often rub against each other. Individuals of a pod often dive and surface together in a synchronized way. This behavior is known as milling. They are also known to play with objects they find in the water, such as wood, plants, dead fish, and the bubbles they made themself in the water.
Captive individuals are known to continuously play, vocalize, and swim around each other. They are also reported to copy and imitate each other, and show physical affection through mouth to mouth contact. They are highly curious about humans and captive individuals usually approach the windows of the tanks to observe humans.
Are Beluga Whales Dangerous?
Beluga whales are generally known to be friendly and non-dangerous towards humans. They show great curiosity towards humans and interact with them in a playful manner. They are known to rub against boats and swim alongside swimmers.
There have been very few reported incidents of belugas being aggressive towards humans. But they are not dangerous because they have tiny blunt teeth that would cause a small damage in case they bite down on someone. However, it is still important to take great caution when approaching them in the wild, because sudden movements or loud noises can alarm them.
Can Beluga Whales Attack Humans?
No, beluga whales do not attack humans. There are no recorded incidents of a beluga whale ever attacking a human. Belugas are gentle and peaceful creatures of the ocean. They show great curiosity towards humans and swim alongside boats in the wild. In captivity, they frequently approach the tanks windows to observe humans.
why are beluga whales so friendly?
Beluga whales have a unique ability to recognize and interact with humans by showing signs of curiosity and playfulness. Belugas have been known to approach boats, swim alongside divers, allow people to pet them and even take fish out of their hands.
This is likely due to their highly social nature which allows them to form strong bonds with other animals including humans. This social ability of them helps explain why belugas are so eager for human interaction.
Can You Swim With Beluga Whales?
Swimming with beluga whales can be an amazing and unforgettable experience. It is possible to swim with them in their natural habitat with proper safety protocols. But it is important to take the supervision of experienced professionals while swimming with belugas to ensure your safety as well as of belugas.
Can Beluga Whales Talk To Humans?
No, beluga whales can not talk to humans. They show a great degree of curiosity towards humans and swim alongside boats. In captivity, they approach windows of the tanks to observe humans.
They make a variety of sounds, like clicks, whistles, and trills to communicate with each other. Studies show that belugas understand commands from their trainers and also respond to them with specific sounds. So it is believed that they may be able to communicate with humans at some level. But due to limited research the answer is not clear yet.
