Baby Beluga in the Deep Blue…River?

Beluga whales are found in the Saint Lawrence River—but their population is declining. Listen up:

On the lookout for whale sightings. (R. Michaud)

It sounds like a whale of a tale, but it’s not. Thirteen species of cetaceans can be found in the St. Lawrence River.

“The St. Lawrence is an amazing area. The biodiversity out there is amazing,” says Robert Michaud, president of the Group of Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM).

He explains that some whales, like sperm and blue whales, live in the ocean and swim up into the river, while others, like belugas, stay there year-round.

But this amazing biodiversity may be at risk. Michaud notes that the river’s beluga population is declining, raising concerns about new contaminants in the river.

So he says long-term tracking of the whales and water quality is needed to better understand the problem and identify solutions.

Get schooled:

• Examine whale portraits of the thirteen St. Lawrence species, thanks to Whales Online (W.O)
• Become an expert on the evolution of cetaceans via W.O
• Learn more about GREMM’s conservation in action 

The fine print:

This segment was produced in partnership with Cornell’s Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future.