A large white whale is swimming off Seattle, but no one knows why.
Last week, people in the Seattle metropolitan area discovered a beluga whale swimming around Puget Sound. Selfish cetaceans — Beluga whale — Usually found in the Arctic Ocean and the Sub-Arctic Ocean.
Howard Garrett, co-founder of Orca Network, a non-profit organization that raises awareness of whales in Puget Sound, said that “the closest beluga whale population is Cook Inlet, Alaska,” about 1,500 miles (2,400 km) from Seattle. I told Live Science. “I haven’t checked the water temperature there, but it’s a bit colder than here.”
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One of the first reported sightings was Sunday (10) when Jason Rogers of Bonney Lake, Washington, photographed a white whale swimming in Commencement Bay near Tacoma, about 30 miles (50 km) south of Seattle. It occurred on the 3rd of March).
“Sure, it was a surreal experience,” Rogers told Live Science in an email. “Sailing in Commencement Bay was the last place we thought we would see whales, let alone beluga. It felt really out of place, but we were swimming quietly.”
Others have found beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Swimming around Puget Sound at three different shipyards. “I don’t understand the appeal of shipyards to beluga,” Garrett said. “I don’t know if it’s a clue. It was caught at a shipyard somewhere in a crowded harbor, but certainly in North America, there’s no documentation and I don’t know where it is.”
In 2019, a beluga whale found in Norwegian waters, wearing a harness labeled “St. Petersburg Equipment,” was suspected of being a Russian spy. Live science previously reported.. The beluga whale, called Hvaldimir, is still swimming in the Scandinavian waters. Animal welfare activists are worried that they may not be able to hunt and avoid humans on their own. According to the BBC..
There are no clues to the origin of the newly discovered beluga. “No markings are seen, no indication of where they came from,” Garrett said.
Like many others Arctic Adult beluga whales, subarctic animals, are white and help to remain camouflaged in the world of snow and sea ice. According to the Georgia Aquarium.. Beluga whales are also known as the distinctive “melons” that whales use for communication and echolocation, the rounded ridges. In fact, beluga whales are social animals that live in as many as 100 pods, making this lonely whale journey even more mysterious, Garrett said.
So why did this whale adventure on its own?
“Until we show some signs, my default theory is that this whale just decided to go for a walk and go on an expedition,” Garrett said. “I wanted to travel. It’s very rare, but sometimes it happens with something different. [beluga] population. So this isn’t entirely unprecedented, but it’s definitely very rare. “
The last beluga whale was witnessed in Puget Sound in 1940, Garrett said. There was also a report of a beluga whale in Puget Sound in 2010, but he said that only one person reported seeing it and could not obtain photographic evidence.
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In 2020, a beluga whale was washed away and died in Baja California Sur, Mexico. According to Mercury News.. It is still a mystery why the whale swam in such a warm sea. “I don’t know why beluga does so,” Garrett said.
That said, at least according to previous sightings, Puget Sound beluga whales appear to be healthy. Beluga whales eat squids, small fish and crabs. “There are a lot of them in Puget Sound,” he said. Puget Sound is also home to temporary whales and other whales, including residents. Orca Gray whale movement, Humpback whale Said the minke whale, Garrett.
Local whales and other animal groups are aware of the evil beluga whale, including the local branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This beluga wants to get close to the whale safely and get the image. Such images can be compared to other known beluga whale photographs, which may help scientists identify where Puget Sound visitors came from, Garrett said.
Call the Whale Sighting Network ((360) 331-3543) or the toll-free number (866) ORCANET (672-2638) to report beluga whale sightings.Or you can send an email info@orcanetwork.org.. But don’t get too close to whales. They are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the vessels must be at least 100 yards (91 meters) apart, but longer distances are recommended, According to Whale Wise..
Originally published in Live Science.
A lone beluga whale was found 1,500 miles away from home, but no one knows why.
Source link A lone beluga whale was found 1,500 miles away from home, but no one knows why.
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