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On this episode of Rarified listeners are introduced to the beluga whale. Renowned for its unique vocalizations and smiling visage, the beluga whale inhabits the Arctic and sub-Arctic waters. With conservation scientist William Halliday, the podcast dives into the life of belugas, exploring their behaviors, unique adaptations, and the threats they face, such as climate change and increased human activity in the Arctic. They discuss conservation efforts, traditional ecological knowledge from Indigenous communities, and how studies like acoustic monitoring and tagging help understand and protect these 'canaries of the sea.'

www.arcticnoise.ca

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/white-wilderness-lemming-suicide/

further reading: 

Martin et al. 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12978 

Halliday et al. 2019 https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic69294

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Rarified Podcast

00:26 Exploring the Beluga Whale

01:36 Interview with William Halliday

02:36 Beluga Whale Behavior and Social Structure

08:33 Beluga Whale Migration Patterns

13:40 Impact of Climate Change on Belugas

16:19 Human Activity and Beluga Conservation

18:19 Research Methods for Studying Belugas

21:40 Indigenous Partnerships in Beluga Research

23:34 Indigenous Partnerships in Arctic Research

24:43 Community Consultations and Permits

25:35 Fieldwork and Data Collection

27:27 Memorable Beluga Encounters

31:04 Ecotourism and Beluga Conservation

35:51 Challenges and Successes in Conservation

36:38 Career Path and Conservation Ethos

38:58 Lemmings Myth and Reality

40:36 Supporting Beluga Populations

44:16 Success Stories and Future Hopes

46:23 Conclusion and Farewell