You know you’re looking at a beluga whale when you see a beluga whale.
That’s because of their distinctive white color and bulging foreheads.
But they might be best know for their sweet looking faces and friendly demeanors.
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“They make friends with other animals outside of their family groups and form communities similar to human societies with social networks, support structures, cooperation and even cultures. These involve interactions between kin and non-kin,” Science Focus reports.
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“This new understanding of why individuals may form social groups, even with non-relatives, will hopefully promote new research on what constitutes species resilience and how species like the beluga whale can respond to emerging threats including climate change.”
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A beluga whale who lives at Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut seems to have made a friend in a saxophonist who came to visit his tank and play some music.
The aquarium is currently home to three belugas who live in a 750,000-gallon outdoor habitat which they say is the largest in the U.S, according to Hartford Courant.
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The aquarium is trying to acquire five more in order to conduct non-invasive research in an effort to boost the whale’s endangered and depleted populations.
“The study of belugas in zoological parks and aquariums has increased our understanding of factors threatening the sustainability of the species in the native environment; allowing for steps to conserve and protect these animals. Mystic Aquarium is a leader in beluga research, care and behaviors,” their website says.
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That acquisition has been temporarily blocked by a lawsuit from the Friends of Animals, also based in Connecticut, saying that the whales would be harmed during their transport from Canada because they will be torn away from their friends and family of belugas that they’ve had long term relationships with.
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“While this study [posted on Science Focus] offers us a better understanding of their fascinatingly complex societies, lives, and relationships in the wild, it also adds to the growing body of evidence showing just how harmful captivity is for them,” In Defense of Animals writes.
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“Belugas deserve a life of wild freedom, where they have the ability to choose their friends and mates on their own terms.”
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Either way, it seems that this beluga whale had no problem making friends with the saxophonist.
A 2012 video shows the saxophonist playing “Jingle Bell Rock” for a beluga at Mystic Aquarium.
The beluga seems to really be loving it.
He even starts to sway along with the saxophonist.
Midway through the song, the beluga starts to do something funny with its mouth making it look like its lips are pouted like he wanted to kiss his new friend.
Next, his head starts to wiggle on its own which looks like the whale’s attempt to dance.
“Look at his face!” an on looker cries.
When the song was over, the whale seems a little disappointed to see his new friend go. Check out this groovy beluga and his friend the saxophonist in the video below.
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