ATLANTA – Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom will spotlight the Georgia Aquarium in a new episode featuring beluga whale conservation.

Release:

Georgia Aquarium will once again be spotlighted in a new episode of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild, airing Saturday, April 26.

The new episode will feature the Aquarium’s efforts to protect the gentle beluga whale and how they’re contributing to the species’ conservation.

In the episode, co-hosts Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, an Emory University alumna, and Peter Gros will highlight: 

• Beluga Blues: Why beluga whales are facing significant challenges, with their populations declining due to habitat loss and climate change. 
• Science in Action: How Georgia Aquarium is advancing scientific knowledge about beluga whales through research in a controlled setting, including innovative breath tests performed in a water dome to measure their energy use. 
• Conservation Connections: How this data is shared with conservationists and fishing boats to ensure a sustainable fish supply for wild beluga populations. 
• Whale TLC: The care, treatment, and feeding practices at Georgia Aquarium, where the team has years of experience working with these remarkable animals – and the belugas even voluntarily participate in their own healthcare! 
   

Fast Facts about Beluga Whales: 

• Belugas are incredibly vocal, using a wide variety of sounds to communicate, earning them the nickname “canaries of the sea.” 
• Beluga whales are known for their striking white color and are highly social creatures, often seen in groups called pods. 
• Adult belugas typically measure around 13-20 feet in length, with males generally being larger than females. 
• The species is considered near-threatened due to threats like climate change, hunting, and habitat degradation, particularly in the Arctic and sub-Arctic waters. 
• The largest summering population of belugas in the world live in Hudson Bay in Canada, with roughly 60,000 belugas. 
• There are about 200,000 belugas worldwide.