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A narwhal, who wandered from his Arctic habitat, appears to have made a new home with a pod of belugas in North America’s St. Lawrence river.
Documentation from sea life researches has revealed, based on the animal’s markings, that the same narwhal has now been living with the belugas since 2016.
‘Lucky’
Marie-Ève Muller, editor at whale documentation website Whales Online told Plant Based News that it’s not uncommon for young whales ‘to wander into strange habitats’.
She added: “Some are unable to find their own kind, end up trying to make friends with boats and humans, and get fatally injured by propellers.
“The narwhal got lucky to meet its close relative: belugas.”
A recording made as part of the Beluga St. Lawrence Project
Habitats
Belugas, arctic animals who according to the World Wildlife Foundation are prone to ‘summering in Canadian waters’, have been shown to wander as far south as Nova Scotia and New Jersey.
The young narwhal, however, is now living in a markedly different habitat from the arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia – where the species is usually found.
When asked if the narwhals unusual appearance could have to do with climate change, Muller told PBN: “As for now, we have no information or clues about that.”
