The Beluga Whale is one of Newfoundland's endangered mammals. The Beluga Whale is a pure white, toothed whale with a rounded forehead. It has no dorsal fin and very thick skin, this is believed to be an adaptation to freezing cold waters. These adult whales are on average 3.5m in length, medium sized compared to other eastern North American White Whales. Newborns are brownish grey and are on average 1.6m in length. While maturing, they turn a bluish gray and after around 6 years old their colour fades into white.

Belugas are at the top of the food chain. They feed on almost 50 types of invertebrate and fish species including; squid, tube worms, caplin, Greenland and Atlantic Cod.

The main casue of the decrease in the Beluga population is over-exploitation. Other factors include human destruction of their habitat, the ocean, including damming of several large rivers and disturbances caused by ships.Degradation in water quality due to shipping, industrial activity and contamination in the environment has casued the habitat quality and food supply to decline.

Laws governing the release of toxic substances into aquatic environments include; the Fisheries Act, Canada Shipping Act and Canadian Environmental Protection Act. There is an annual quota of forty Beluga Whales that has been in effect since 1980. Yet there is no legislation limiting the marine traffic effects on mammals. The Fisheries Act prohibits deliberate harassment of marine mammals.

The Beluga Whale is an important part of the aquatic environment, and just like any other animal it should be protected by humans. We are the reason this animal is endangered and it is important to humans to take care of what we have harmed.

Reference: http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/Species/English/SearchDetail.cfm?SpeciesID=130