This beluga whale shot taken by Andy Murch and BigFishExpeditions.com at the bottom of the Churchill River is a unique photo that you don’t see that often. Getting down to the seabed gives an incredible scale and awesome fresh look. Enjoy!
Beluga whales trained by biologists to retrieve experimental torpedoes in the 1970’s and 80’s in Arctic cold waters thought of themselves as family to the crew. They often formed deep bonds with their trainers and would stay with them even though they were able to swim freely. The whales, especially one, learned to express their devotion in a quite human-like way over the years!
Beluga whale communicating with his pod in Churchill. Ellen Cuylaerts photo.
Biologist Sam Ridgeway was one of the bilogists working with the whales and had high praise for the mammals.
“They come to think of us as family,” Ridgway said. “And that’s the reason they stay with us. We have no way of completely controlling them, and yet they do their job and come back. They kind of view themselves as part of a team.”
One of the belugas was named Noc (pronounced no-see) and he was particularly bonded to the staff. One day a navy diver thought he heard a command from his supervisor over the intercom while diving but it wasn’t from him. it was actually Noc mimicking human voice after carefully observing the interactions and commands from his loyal crew.
The diver thought he heard a voice order him to get out of the training tank. However his supervisor had not given any such order. Noc had over – inflated his nasal cavity in order to distort the sound he emitted. It was eerily human – like. Following this initial incident, Noc often attempted to communicate with his trainers and even did so on command.
If you listen closely you will hear the underwater dialogue that closely resembles human speech. Many whales and dolphins have this incredible ability to communicate through language. Blue whales have been studied and found to communicate over a 1000 mile stretch of ocean. We have so much more to learn from these incredible animals in the realm of audible communication!
A fresh new documentary by The Nature of Things called: Polar Bears: A Summer Odyssey gives a comprehensive look at how a western Hudson Bay polar bear survives the ice free months of Arctic summer. Survival is linked to determination for these creatures in this new climate!
Gray Jay eating out of photographers hand. Maximilian Munch photo.
Churchill attracts some of the best world renowned photographers throughout the year. Many of them come just to capture the next best polar bear image in October or November. Many others come to this frontier town year-round and discover the incredible beauty of the Arctic summer or the mystical northern lights in February or March. No matter what time of year, there is always a secret treasure waiting to be found.
These photos by Maximilian Munch in Churchill display some of the beauty of the land and landmarks. Enjoy!
The Ithaca shipwreck in Churchill. Maximilian Munch photo.
Polar bear on the rocks near the Hudson Bay. Maximilian Munch photo.
Mother and cub polar bear on the rocks. Maximilian Munch photo.
Miss piggy plane wreck. Maximilian munch photo.
Some fresh summer shots from Churchill local photographer and Parc’s Canada ranger Rhonda Reid. Churchill is full of many surprises as summer starts to blend into fall during August. A Natural Habitat Adventures group was incredibly fortunate to see polar bears, beluga whales and northern lights last week which is always an incredible feat!
Northern grass of parnassus with pollinating insects in petals. Rhonda Reid photo.
Precambrian shield sloping down towards the Hudson Bay. Rhonda Reid photo.
Polar bear mom and cub nearing the dock at Cape Merry. Rhonda Reid photo.
Manitoba Conservation officer monitoring bears emerging from water. Rhonda Reid photo.
Polar bear sow and cub on the far point rocks near Cape Merry. Rhonda Reid photo.
