• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • email
Skip to main content
The Whale Sanctuary Project | Back to Nature
  • Our Work
  • The Team
  • The Whales
  • Deeper Dive
  • Blog
  • Events

Donate  Subscribe

  • Our Work
  • The Team
  • The Whales
  • Deeper Dive
  • Blog
  • Events

Belugas Are Whales, Too

Posted August 15, 2016 in News by Michael Mountain

When they hear about The Whale Sanctuary Project, many people assume that it’s primarily about orcas. But beluga whales are also central to the work of the project, and the waters of Nova Scotia are among their home territories, which makes the region well-suited to a seaside sanctuary.

At least 75 belugas are currently held in captivity in the U.S. and Canada, and their wellbeing is just as poor as it is for orcas. In captivity, their lives are significantly shortened, and they have an especially difficult time breeding successfully because of their very specific social needs. For example, they need an intact social group, including family members, in order to choose mates and raise their young properly.  These conditions almost never exist in theme parks.

In the wild there are also belugas who live as “lone sociables” rather than in family groups, and they sometimes interact with people. In 1993, Catherine Kinsman was authorized by the Canadian government to watch over an orphan known as Wilma, who had been trying to make friends with fishermen and tourists for five years. Belugas like Wilma sometimes end up in need of special care, and a seaside sanctuary in Nova Scotia could be of benefit for them.

Also on the Blog

  • Seaside Sanctuary Concept
  • Canada Bans Captivity of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises
  • Orca Brains and Intelligence
  • “Whales Without Walls” – a short film
  • The Whale Jail Is No More!
  • Site Search Report

The Case Against Keeping Whales and Dolphins Captive

The tide is turning in the West but in Asia the marine entertainment park industry is booming. 

Special report >

Join Us

Subscribe for Latest News

Make a donation

Get email updates

Subscribe

Follow Us

Help create the sanctuary

Make a donation
  • Privacy Policy |
  • Terms and Conditions of Use |
  • Contact Us |
  • UX Design by Dialogue Theory

© 2021 The Whale Sanctuary Project. All Rights Reserved.