By Stan Tekiela
In the past when I traveled to the arctic to film Polar Bears, I always went during the winter, or perhaps a better way to say that is, I went when there was snow on the ground. After all, capturing images of Polar Bears in snow is the quintessential shot. But when I went this last time, I went specifically during autumn so I could capture images of Polar Bears in the autumn splendor. However, there was a second reason I went at this time of year, the Beluga Whales (Delphinapterus leucas) would still be around.
Getting out on a small boat (zodiac) takes some planning but more importantly, it takes good weather conditions. So, I was keen to watch the weather during my time visiting the Polar Bears along Hudson Bay in northern Manitoba. There was just one morning when the wind wouldn’t be too much, and the skies were almost clear. If we had any chance of seeing the Beluga Whales, it would be this morning.
After a quick safety talk and putting on oversized PFD’s (personal floatation device) we climbed into the zodiac and headed out into open water to see if we could find some Beluga Whales. These whales are sub-Arctic and Arctic species of whale which are very different looking from other whale species. They have a large bulbous head which has led to another common name, Melon-headed Whale.
These aren’t very large whales with the males ranging between 11 and 18 feet in length and weighing between two and three thousand pounds. The females are about 25 percent smaller than the males. As adults they are completely white or whitish-gray in color. The young are born dark gray or blueish gray. It isn’t until they are seven to nine years old do they obtain their full white color as an adult. It is believed that the white skin is an adaptation to life in the Arctic and helps them to blend into the snow and ice surroundings.