Beluga Whale

Hello! My name is Beluga, and I am a Beluga Whale. I live in the super chilly Arctic waters, where big white chunks of ice float all around. My home is beautiful and very cold, but I love it. To help me hide from other animals, my skin is all white, just like the snow and ice. This makes me a master of disguise. On my head, I have something very special. It's a squishy, round forehead called a 'melon'. It feels a bit like a bouncy ball. I can wiggle and change the shape of my melon to make different faces and sounds to show my friends how I am feeling. It's my own special way of smiling.

Some people call me the 'canary of the sea,' and it's my favorite nickname. Do you know why? It's because I love to talk. I am one of the chattiest whales in the whole ocean. I don't use words like you do, but I make all sorts of fun sounds. I can make clicks, whistles, and happy chirps. It’s my way of singing my own songs under the sea. I use my sounds to talk to my big family. We live together in a group called a pod. Living in a pod is the best because we are never lonely. In my pod, we do everything together. We swim side-by-side through the cold water, exploring our big blue world. We love to play games, chasing each other around the ice. When we get hungry, we all work together to find our next meal. We are a team, and we always look out for one another.

My body is built perfectly for living in my icy home. If you look at my back, you'll notice something is missing. I don't have a big fin sticking up like other whales do. This is actually my superpower. Without a fin on my back, I can swim right underneath the huge sheets of sea ice without getting stuck. It's like having a secret passage that only I can use. This helps me find food and stay safe. I am a great underwater explorer. Speaking of food, I love to eat. My favorite snacks are found deep down on the seafloor. I dive down, down, down to find yummy fish, tasty crabs, and wiggly shrimp. I use my strong mouth to find them hiding in the sand and rocks. Finding a delicious meal at the bottom of the ocean is one of the best parts of my day.

I have a very important job here in the ocean. By eating certain fish and being food for other animals, I help keep my ocean home healthy and in balance. It's a big responsibility, but I am happy to do my part. You can help me, too. My Arctic home is precious, and it’s important to protect it. People can help by keeping the oceans clean and safe for me and all my friends. I am so happy to share this big blue world with you.