Whale Tales

Beluga Whales have made headlines over the past few months.

It began in June of this year with Natalia Avseenko, a 36-year-old Russian diver who shed her clothing and braved icy cold waters to swim with Belugas in the freezing Arctic waters. The naked Natalia is seen using her yoga techniques to hold her breath and stay submerged for nearly ten minutes as she swam with the Belugas. Perhaps the whales just didn't know what to make of her and you can see it here.

Who doesn't love the soothing sounds of a Mariachi Band? Even one Beluga Whale at the Mystic Aquarium seems to enjoy bobbing up and down as the band performs in front of the whale. You can see it here.

This Beluga Whale is named Juno and he is a 9-year-old, 1,400-pound whale. There were reportedly several female Belugas in the tank with him but they chose to stay in the back as Juno stole the show.

According to the senior trainer of beluga whales at the aquarium, a wedding was taking place at the Mystic Aquarium when the Mariachi Band ventured over to the tank and Juno stole the show. The trainer stated that the whales can hear noise outside the holding tanks and she has no doubt that Juno was reacting to the music.

You can watch the Beluga whales dancing in the ocean in this Youtube video by Jean-Michel Cousteau by clicking here. Cousteau states that "protecting the beauty of the ocean is as essential as food is to our bodies." He is the son of the famed oceanographer, Jacques Cousteau.

I don't ever recall Jacques Cousteau swimming naked with the Belugas though.

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/03/mariachi-band-plays-for-beluga-whale_n_917178.html

http://www.syracuse.com/have-you-heard/index.ssf/2011/08/viral_video_mariachi_serenades_beluga_whale_connecticut_aquarium.html

http://news.discovery.com/animals/mariachi-band-serenades-music-enjoying-beluga-whale.html

http://www.oceanfutures.org/node/191