Belugas swim in the sea off Alaska. (Photo taken by Lisa Barry with permission from Amelia Brower / NOA via SWNS)
Beluga whales indulge in wife swapping to enhance their long term survival chances, reveals new research.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAmvC@F?5\3C62<:?8 s}p 2?2=JD:D D9@HD 3@E9 >2=6D 2?5 76>2=6D @7 E96 DA64:6D E92E =:G6 :? E96 4@=5 pC4E:4 2?5 DF3\pC4E:4 H2E6CD @7 E96 }@CE96C? w6>:DA96C6 92G6 >2?J 5:776C6?E >2E6D]k^Am
kAmq6=F82D 2C6 92C56C E@ DEF5J E92? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ad^`a^aa^D4:6?E:DED\FD6\2:\E@\5:D4@G6C\9@H\H92=6D\3C665\566A\36?62E9\2C4E:4\:46^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQm>@DE H92=6Dk^2m 2D E96J DA6?5 D@ >F49 E:>6 F?56C E96 pC4E:4 :46]k^Am
kAmqFE ?@H s}p 2?2=JD:D 92D 8:G6? D4:6?E:DED 2 AC64:@FD 8=:>AD6 :?E@ E96 D@4:2= =:76 @7 2 36=F82 A@AF=2E:@? =:G:?8 :? qC:DE@= q2J[ p=2D<2]k^Am
kAm%96J 7@F?5 E92E 3@E9 >2=6D 2?5 76>2=6D >2E6 H:E9 >2?J 5:776C6?E A2CE?6CD @G6C E96 J62CD]k^Am
kAm%96 “>2E6 DH:E49:?8” C6DF=ED :? >2?J 92=7\D:3=:?8D 2?5 76H 7F==\D:3=:?8D 2?5 >2J C65F46 E96 C:D< @7 :?3C665:?8 2?5 96=A >2:?E2:? 86?6E:4 5:G6CD:EJ 56DA:E6 E96 A@AF=2E:@?’D D>2== D:K6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 C6D62C496CD]k^Am
kAm$EF5J =625 2FE9@C sC] vC68 ~’r@CCJ\rC@H6[ @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]72F]65F^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQmu=@C:52 pE=2?E:4 &?:G6CD:EJk^2m[ D2:5i “(6 DE:== <?@H G6CJ =:EE=6 23@FE 36=F82 H92=6D[ 56DA:E6 E96:C :>>6?D6 A@AF=2C:EJ]k^Am
kAm“%96 AC:>2CJ C62D@? 7@C E9:D :D E96 5:77:4F=EJ @7 DEF5J:?8 2 DA64:6D E92E =:G6D 36?62E9 E96 H2G6D :? E96 4@=5 2?5 @7E6? 7C@K6? ?@CE9]k^Am
An aggregation of adult beluga whales in a bay during the summer in the High Arctic. Beluga whales indulge in wife swapping to enhance their long term survival chances, reveals new research. (Greg O’Corry-Crowe and Cortney Watt, Arctic Whale Research Program via SWNS)
kAmQqFE E9:D :D E96 492==6?86 E92E >2<6D 5:D4@G6CJ[ H96? :E 92AA6?D[ >@C6 6I4:E:?8]”k^Am
kAm~G6C `b J62CD[ 2 E62> \ :?4=F5:?8 D4:6?E:DED 7C@> u=@C:52 pE=2?E:4 &?:G6CD:EJ 2?5 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2578]2=2D<2]8@G^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQmp=2D<2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 u:D9 2?5 v2>6k^2m[ 2D H6== 2D p=2D<2 }2E:G6 DF3D:DE6?46 9F?E6CD 7C@> qC:DE@= q2J \ 4@==64E65 D>2== E:DDF6 D2>A=6D 7C@> eab H92=6D]k^Am
kAm(:E9 =:EE=6 6I:DE:?8 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE H:=5 36=F82D’ >2E:?8 923:ED E@ 8@ @?[ C6D62C496CD FD65 6G@=FE:@?2CJ E96@CJ 2?5 724ED 23@FE E96 DA64:6D’ 3:@=@8J E@ >2<6 AC65:4E:@?D E96J 4@F=5 E6DE 282:?DE E96 C62=\=:76 52E2]k^Am
kAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ >2=6D 2C6 D:8?:7:42?E=J =2C86C E92? 76>2=6D[ 2?5 76>2=6D 42? @?=J 92G6 @?6 42=7 6G6CJ 76H J62CD]k^Am
kAmsC] ~’r@CCJ\rC@H6 D2:5i “(6 AC65:4E65 E92E 36=F82 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ad^`a^``^?6H\C6D62C49\C6G62=D\<:==6C\H92=6D\E62>\FA\H:E9\5@=A9:?D\E@\9F?E^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQmH92=6Dk^2m 925 2 A@=J8J?@FD >2E:?8 DJDE6> H96C6 2 76H @7 E96 >@DE 4@>A6E:E:G6 2?5 A@DD:3=J =2C86DE >2=6D D64FC6 >@DE @7 E96 >2E:?8D H:E9:? 2 D62D@? @C 6G6? 24C@DD 2 76H D62D@?D[ 2?5 E92E E96J AC@G:56 =:EE=6 @C ?@ A2C6?E2= 42C6]Qk^Am
kAmqFE 96 D2:5 36=F82D =:G6 :? =2C86 D@4:2= 8C@FA:?8D H9:49 DA=:E FA 2?5 C67@C> @G6C E:>6[ H9:49 4@F=5 :?4C62D6 76>2=6D’ 2446DD E@ 5:776C6?E A@E6?E:2= >2E6D]k^Am
kAm$@ E96 C6D62C496CD 2=D@ AC65:4E65 E92E 76>2=6D >:89E >2E6 H:E9 >2?J 5:776C6?E >2=6D 24C@DD 3C665:?8 D62D@?D]k^Am
kAm(96? E96J =@@<65 2E E96 C6DF=ED[ E96J 7@F?5 E92E 3@E9 >2=6 2?5 76>2=6 36=F82D 925 42=G6D H:E9 5:776C6?E >2E6D @G6C E96 J62CD]k^Am
kAmx7 42=G6D 925 D:3=:?8D[ E96J FDF2==J @?=J D92C65 @?6 A2C6?E]k^Am
kAmp== 36=F82D 925 2 D>2== ?F>36C @7 42=G6D[ 3FE E96C6 H2D >@C6 G2C:2E:@? :? >2=6D’ C6AC@5F4E:G6 DF446DDi D@>6 >2=6D 72E96C65 D=:89E=J >@C6 42=G6D]k^Am
kAmsC] ~’r@CCJ\rC@H6 D2:5i “q6=F82 >2=6D H6C6 :?5665 A@=J8J?@FD[ 3FE[ DFCAC:D:?8=J[ @?=J >@56C2E6=J D@]k^Am
Two beluga whale cow-calf pairs in a shallow river estuary in the High Arctic. (Greg O’Corry-Crowe and Cortney Watt, Arctic Whale Research Program via SWNS)
kAm“%96 E9C66\5:>6?D:@?2= 2BF2E:4 6?G:C@?>6?E =:<6=J =:>:ED 2 >2=6’D 23:=:EJ E@ DF446DD7F==J 4@FCE @C 4@CC2= >F=E:A=6 76>2=6D]k^Am
kAmQw@H6G6C[ 2 =@?8 =:76 >2J 2=D@ 36 <6J]k^Am
kAmQq6=F82D 42? =:G6 h_ J62CD[ A@DD:3=J >@C6]k^Am
kAmQ|2=6 36=F82 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ad^`a^_`^A=2DE:4\A@==FE:@?\AFEE:?8\<:==6C\H92=6D\2?5\D92C<D\>@DE\2E\C:D<^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQmH92=6D >2Jk^2m[ E96C67@C6[ A=2J 2 =@?8 82>6 @7 D64FC:?8 2 76H >2E:?8D 6249 J62C @G6C 2 G6CJ =@?8 C6AC@5F4E:G6 =:76]k^Am
kAm“%96 76>2=6 DE@CJ :D ;FDE 2D 72D4:?2E:?8]k^Am
kAmQ%96 86?6E:4 AC@7:=:?8 C6G62=65 E92E 76>2=6 36=F82D C68F=2C=J DH:E49 >2E6D 24C@DD 3C665:?8 D62D@?D[ 2=D@ @G6C 2 =@?8 C6AC@5F4E:G6 =:76]k^Am
kAmQ%9:D 4@F=5 36 2 36E\9658:?8 DEC2E68J E@ =:>:E E96 C:D< @7 >2E:?8 H:E9 =@H\BF2=:EJ >2=6D]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 2 DEC:<:?8 C6>:?56C E92E 76>2=6 49@:46 42? 36 ;FDE 2D :?7=F6?E:2= :? D92A:?8 C6AC@5F4E:G6 DF446DD 2D E96 @7E6?\9:89=:89E65 32EE=6D @7 >2=6\>2=6 4@>A6E:E:@?]k^Am
kAm“$F49 DEC2E68:6D 9:89=:89E E96 DF3E=6[ J6E A@H6C7F= H2JD :? H9:49 76>2=6D 6I6CE 4@?EC@= @G6C E96 ?6IE 86?6C2E:@?[ D92A:?8 E96 6G@=FE:@?2CJ EC2;64E@CJ @7 E96 DA64:6D]”k^Am
kAm%96 7:?5:?8D[ AF3=:D965 :? E96 ;@FC?2= k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7C@?E:6CD:?]@C8^;@FC?2=D^>2C:?6\D4:6?46Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQmuC@?E:6CD :? |2C:?6 $4:6?46k^2m[ 2=D@ C6G62=65 F?6IA64E65=J 9:89 86?6E:4 5:G6CD:EJ 2?5 =@H =6G6=D @7 :?3C665:?8[ 56DA:E6 2 D>2== A@AF=2E:@? @7 ;FDE a[___ :?5:G:5F2=D]k^Am
kAmr@>A2C:?8 E96 C6DF=ED E@ @E96C A@AF=2E:@?D 2?5 9:DE@C:42= D2>A=6D 7C@> qC:DE@= q2J :?5:42E6D E92E E96 36=F82DV 86?6E:4 5:G6CD:EJ :D C@F89=J 6BF:G2=6?E E@ =2C86C A@AF=2E:@?D 2?5 92D C6>2:?65 DE23=6 @G6C E:>6]k^Am
A group of beluga whale bulls in a bay during the summer in the High Arctic. (Greg O’Corry-Crowe and Cortney Watt, Arctic Whale Research Program via SWNS)
kAmsC] ~’r@CCJ\rC@H6 D2:5i “p =625:?8 4@?46C? 7@C D>2== A@AF=2E:@?D :D E92E E96J E6?5 E@ =@D6 86?6E:4 5:G6CD:EJ 72DE6C E92? =2C86 A@AF=2E:@?D 2?5 E96 C:D<D @7 :?3C665:?8 2C6 9:896C]k^Am
kAm“(6 6IA64E65 E@ 7:?5 =@H 5:G6CD:EJ 2?5 9:89 :?3C665:?8[ 3FE H6 7@F?5 D@>6E9:?8 BF:E6 5:776C6?E]k^Am
kAmQ%96 >2E:?8 DJDE6> >2J 6IA=2:? E9:D DFCAC:D:?8 7:?5:?8]k^Am
kAmQuC6BF6?E >2E6 DH:E49:?8 =:>:ED E96 ?F>36C @7 9:89=J C6=2E65 @77DAC:?8 :? E96 A@AF=2E:@?]k^Am
kAmQ%9:D :? EFC? C65F46D E96 C:D< @7 9:89=J C6=2E65 :?5:G:5F2=D >2E:?8 2?5 AC@5F4:?8 9:89=J :?3C65 @77DAC:?8]k^Am
kAmQxE 2=D@ >:?:>:D6D E96 C:D< @7 5:G6CD:EJ =@DD]k^Am
kAmQ(6 42??@E 277@C5 E@ 36 4@>A=246?E[ 3FE H6 42? 36 @AE:>:DE:4 E92E 36=F82 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ad^``^`c^DEF5J\7:?5D\H92=6D\42?\62E\>@C6\E92?\a__\DBF:5\2\52J^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQmH92=6 >2E:?8k^2m DEC2E68:6D AC@G:56 6G:56?46 @7 ?2EFC6’D C6D:=:6?46]”k^Am
kAm%96 C6D62C49 E62> D2J @E96C A@AF=2E:@?D 4@F=5 3692G6 5:776C6?E=J]k^Am
kAm%96 5:776C6?46 :? 2AA62C2?46 36EH66? >2=6D 2?5 76>2=6D \ <?@H? 2D QD6IF2= 5:>@CA9:D>Q \ :D 4@>A2C2E:G6=J =@H :? qC:DE@= q2J[ H9:49 E96 C6D62C496CD D2J >2J :?5:42E6 E92E >2E:?8 56A6?5D =6DD @? 4@>A6E:E:@? 36EH66? E96 >2=6D E92? :E 5@6D 6=D6H96C6]k^Am
kAmsC] ~’r@CCJ\rC@H6 D2:5 “%@ >6[ E96 5:776C6?46D :? D6IF2= 5:>@CA9:D> 2>@?8 A@AF=2E:@?D @7 36=F82 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ad^``^_b^<:==6C\H92=6D\42F89E\@?\42>6C2\9F?E:?8\5@H?\2?5\62E:?8\8C62E\H9:E6\D92C<D^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQmH92=6D 4@F=5 :?5:42E6k^2m E92E >2E:?8 DJDE6>D 2=D@ G2CJ[ 2?5 E9:D :D D@>6E9:?8 H6 2C6 4FCC6?E=J H@C<:?8 @?]Qk^Am
kAmw6 25565i “(6 2=D@ 42?’E 56E6C>:?6 :7 76>2=6D >2E6 H:E9 >F=E:A=6 >2=6D H:E9:? 2 D62D@? FD:?8 86?6E:4D[ 2D 2 76>2=6 @?=J AC@5F46D @?6 42=7 7C@> @?6 =F4<J >2=6]k^Am
kAmQqFE H6 2C6 H@C<:?8 @? E9:D[ FD:?8 5C@?6D 2E @E96C =@42E:@?D E@ 56E6C>:?6 :7 H6 42? @3D6CG6 >2E:?8 3692G:@CD :? E96 H:=5]Qk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.