Thousands of beluga whales are captivating visitors in Canada’s Hudson Bay, while environmental concerns about their future in warming Arctic waters mount.
The playful white whales, known for their social nature, can be seen in large numbers, interacting with boats and tourists on the Churchill River.
Churchill, Manitoba, known as the “Polar Bear Capital of the World,” has always relied heavily on polar bear tourism. However, with climate change reducing sea ice, local bear numbers have been threatened, prompting the town to turn its attention to the whales to sustain tourism.
Erin Greene, a local resident and paddleboard instructor, described the healing effect being in the water with a beluga whale has.
“Everybody’s smiling when they get off the water,” she said. “Everybody’s just experiencing joy. And it’s the whales that provide that.”
After surviving a polar bear attack in 2013, she found solace in the whales’ presence.