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!