We’re diving beneath the waves again this week, into the crystal clear waters of the land of ice and snow. Though famous (and named) for their white colouring, beluga whales are actually born grey, only taking on their ghostly hue with age. They are highly social creatures, and because the vertebrae in their necks are not fused, they can twist their heads around, giving them a highly comical appearance as they swim around their arctic home (Whale and Dolphin Conservatory).
My childhood aquarium kept beluga whales in captivity for years, and even at a young age I couldn’t escape the feeling that there was something deeply wrong about keeping highly intelligent, social creatures in tiny tanks for our own amusement. Thankfully, after the death the wild-caught Aurora in 2016, laws were brought in banning the keeping of large marine mammals in the city. The last facility in Canada to keep large marine mammals in captivity, Marineland (every Canadian of a certain age can sing their advertising jingle), closed in 2026, and its remaining animals were sent to facilities in other countries.
I’m also a member of the baby beluga generation, meaning I grew up singing Raffi’s beloved children’s song Baby Beluga – which was actually inspired by a visit to my childhood aquarium! This video of Raffi performing his most famous song in 1988 captures the essence of my childhood pretty well – I turned four that year, so I would’ve fit right in!
Linda at Another Word Edgewise is hosting Poetry Friday this week – thank you, Linda!
Awwww, I’m part of the Baby Beluga generation of MOMs that can’t stop singing the song. Ha! I’m glad the whales are living their best life right now. Your exploration of the deep blue seems to be going great! Carry on.
I love Raffi’s Baby Beluga, but my granddaughter would not accept any other song when she was two, so it has an overtone of overuse for me. I can sing all the words and now your post has made it come back to me. I would have loved to see a real one, but am happy they are not being kept in captivity anymore.
Oh, Jane, my school’s classes took trips & since I taught the middle schoolers, we went far, often to ocean places, & every time, sang that Baby Beluga song, even if we weren’t a place where “they” were. I love your fond poem for these special ghosts! Sorry you aren’t finished yet, but wishing you a lovely final few weeks!
Ghosts gliding beneath the ice. Love!!
Oh, your poem just captures those beluga whales so beautifully, especially that “ghosts in shades of white and grey.” Thank you for the info about these soulful creatures, and the background on a family favorite Raffi song, Baby Beluga!”
Oh, I sang Baby Beluga over and over to my kids, Jane! What a sweet haiku tribute to such a beautiful animal.
Jane, thanks for the Baby Beluga song and the information you offered. Knowing the beluga was captured and a law had to stop this practice was so sad.
Jane, I remember Raffi’s Baby Beluga song from when my sons where young. We had a cassette tape of his music on which this song had a part. I had no idea Beluga whales changed color as they aged. Good info! Thanks!
Thank you for this, Jane. I love your poem and story about the belugas and thinking about them as ghosts.
I remember the Raffi Baby Beluga whale song. Thanks for sharing this.
I’m a member of the “played Raffi music for my kiddos for years” generation. 😀 (My oldest was born in 1993.) Love Raffi so much! Loved your poem this week too. And I’m so glad that aquariums have been wising up over time.