Threats and Conservation Efforts

The beluga whale is also called the white whale and is mostly found in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. They can be simply identified due to their white color, bulbous forehead, and lack of a dorsal fin. Talking about their threats, they face dangers from both humans and animals. Let’s look into these threats and how they can be prevented.

Threats and Conservation Efforts

Natural Predators

The belugas have some natural predators, such as killer whales and polar bears, which pose a substantial threat to them. First of all, let’s talk about killer whales.

Killer Whales:

Killer whales hunt both young and adult belugas. Killer whales are discovered in oceans all over the world, yet of the location. Most recorded cases of killer whales hunting belugas come from Greenland, Russia, Canada, and Alaska. Killer whales mostly hunt belugas in August, but belugas sense their arrival beforehand and migrate to deep waters to hide. This is because killer whales have dorsal fins, and their length, which is about 2 meters, helps them navigate under the sea. However, those belugas that fail to migrate end up being killed. Killer whales mostly attack in groups, and they primarily target calves, juveniles, and sick belugas because they are easier targets for them. The killer whale is also considered a very intelligent predator because it hunts with great planning and strategy. It can also be said that killer whales contribute to the decrease in the beluga whale population.

Killer Whale

Polar Bears:

Polar bears are the primary threat to belugas in Arctic areas. In winter, when beluga whales become entrapped, polar bears take benefit of the situation. Using their strong sense of smell, they locate the belugas and hunt them, bringing them onto the ice to eat. One documented incident records a 150 to 180-kg bear hunting a 935-kg beluga whale.

Polar bear

Apart from these predators, sharks also prey on beluga whales. Greenland sharks occasionally hunt beluga whales as well.

Killer Whales

Oceans worldwide, especially Greenland, Russia, Canada, and Alaska

Hunt in groups, targeting calves, juveniles, and sick belugas; mostly hunt in August; belugas sense their arrival and migrate to deep waters to hide.

Contribute significantly to the decline in the beluga population due to their intelligent and strategic hunting.

Polar Bears

Arctic areas

Hunt trapped belugas during winter; use their strong sense of smell to locate belugas and drag them onto the ice to eat.

Pose a major threat in Arctic regions, especially when belugas are entrapped in ice.

Greenland Sharks

Arctic and sub-Arctic waters

Occasionally prey on beluga whales.

Have a lesser impact compared to killer whales and polar bears but still pose a threat.

Human-Induced Threats

Beluga whales face many threats from humans, whether from pollution, climate change, or noise pollution.

The Impact of Pollution on Beluga Whales:

Pollution includes many harmful substances like plastic and chemicals, which severely affect the health of belugas. Chemicals enter their blubber, weakening their immune system and causing damage to their reproductive system. This leads to a reduced lifespan. If we talk about plastic, it poses a huge threat to belugas because they often ingest plastic. If the plastic pieces are too large, they can even cause death. Therefore, we should avoid throwing plastic into the sea, along with other harmful substances like heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium.

Pollution

Climate Change and Its Effects on Belugas:

Climate change also poses a threat to belugas because when the climate changes, the ice melts. As the ice melts, belugas lose their hiding spots from predators, which makes it easier for killer whales and other predators to hunt them. Additionally, due to climate change, the availability of their prey decreases, which can also lead to a reduction in their population because of the lack of food.

Noise Pollution: A Challenge for Echolocation:

Noise pollution also poses a great threat to beluga whales. Beluga whales rely heavily on echolocation for their daily activities, whether it’s for communication or hunting. Noise pollution greatly affects their echolocation. For example, shipping traffic creates loud sounds from engines and propellers when ships and cargo travel in the ocean. These sounds travel long distances in the water, preventing belugas from communicating with each other. Additionally, oil and gas exploration in the sea involves the use of guns, which produce very loud sounds that travel deep into the ocean, causing stress to belugas and hindering their ability to communicate and hunt, as it creates significant interference. This is contributing to the decline in the beluga population.

Bycatch and Hunting Threats:

hunting Belugas

Bycatch and hunting are the greatest threats to beluga whales, which is why their population is declining. Bycatch means when a non-target species gets caught in a net or trap intended for another target. Fishing gear used to capture fish sometimes unintentionally traps beluga whales, making them victims of human hunting.

Threats

Pollution

Chemicals, plastics, and heavy metals (e.g., lead, mercury, cadmium) entering marine habitats.

Weakens immune and reproductive systems; ingestion of plastic can cause injury or death.

Climate Change

Melting ice due to rising global temperatures; reduced prey availability.

Loss of hiding spots, increased vulnerability to predators, and food scarcity leading to population decline.

Noise Pollution

Shipping traffic (engine and propeller noise); oil and gas exploration (loud seismic guns).

Interferes with echolocation, causing stress and hindering communication and hunting abilities.

Bycatch

Unintentional capture in fishing nets or traps meant for other species.

Leads to injury or death of belugas caught as bycatch, contributing to population decline.

Hunting

Intentional hunting of belugas for their body parts (e.g., blubber, teeth).

Directly reduces population numbers and disrupts local ecosystems.

Conservation Status and Protection Programs

Beluga whales face many threats, including climate change, noise pollution, bycatch, hunting, and many other factors. Many programs are being run to protect beluga whales, whether internationally or locally, to prevent their population from declining and to provide them with an environment that supports their long-term survival.

Efforts to Protect Beluga Whales:

The protection of beluga whales is being carried out internationally, with two major regulations aimed at protecting them and maintaining their population sustainably. The first is the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), passed in 1972 in the United States, with the goal of safeguarding marine mammals, including beluga whales. The MMPA regulates hunting to prevent illegal hunting. Another very important regulation that their work is aimed at protecting is CITES, which has a full form of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, and their work is that of beluga whales. It has outlawed the contract of body parts, such as skin, blubber, and teeth, from the beluga whales, which puts a plug on bycatch and hunting, leaving an unchecked impact on the beluga whale population.

Addressing Climate Change to Safeguard Beluga Whales:

Another very significant impact of climate change can be seen in the population statistics of beluga whales. Some of these efforts at reducing the impacts of climate change include the Paris Agreement. In this agreement, 190+ countries promised to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C. This agreement is doing a lot to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and limit climate change. Many local climate plans are also being developed, which happen to be working on the protection of marine mammals. Different regions are developing their specific climate action plans, and these plans are greatly helping to reduce pollution and many other factors at the local level.

International Regulations

Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)

Passed in 1972 in the United States to regulate and prevent illegal hunting of marine mammals.

Safeguards beluga whales by restricting hunting, reducing direct human-induced population declines.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

Prohibits trade of beluga whale body parts like skin, blubber, and teeth.

Prevents exploitation through trade and helps control bycatch and illegal hunting.

Climate Change Mitigation

Paris Agreement

A global agreement involving 190+ countries aiming to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

Reduces greenhouse gas emissions, minimizes climate change impacts, and protects beluga habitats.

Local Climate Action Plans

Regional plans designed to reduce pollution and address specific local environmental challenges.

Protects marine mammals by addressing local threats and contributing to global conservation efforts.

Conservation Status Efforts

Various conservation programs

Programs aim to create environments that support the long-term survival of belugas.

Reduces threats and works towards stabilizing and increasing the beluga whale population.

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