Beluga Whales
More than 100 beluga whales could be trapped and die in a chain of lakes between the N.W.T. communities of Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk of Canada if they don't soon head to the ocean.
The whales are in the Husky Lakes, where they often feed in the summer. By fall, the whales usually head out a narrow channel that connects to the Arctic Ocean, and then continue west on their annual migration toward Russia.
Fishermen have spotted the whales and they were swimming in the wrong direction, away from the ocean. Many organizations are afraid that if they don't leave within a few weeks, they'll be trapped as the lakes freeze over for the winter.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has flown over the whales twice and is keeping a close eye on their situation. There is still a chance they will leave on their own. If the whales don't leave on their own, the options include chasing the whales out to the ocean with boats or encouraging hunters to kill them before the lakes freeze up.
September 26, 2006 6:53 AM | Category: Animals