Belugas: The Next Wave

The Montréal Biodôme is sharing a special treasure with Nova Scotians.

"Belugas: The Next Wave is a moving, poetic and original look at the belugas' swim for survival in the St. Lawrence River," said the Biodome's Anne Charpentier, who created this bilingual exhibit. The exhibit runs to Feb. 17 at the Museum of Natural History.

Belugas: The Next Wave is a voyage into the world of these magnificent sea creatures. Using video displays, artifacts, and interactive games, it offers a chance to watch the birth of baby whale, print a picture of a favourite beluga and hear the beluga's story as told by character Raphaël Fortin. Actor Marcel Sabourin plays the character in the exhibit.

"This is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the story of one of our most mysterious marine mammals," said Andrew Hebda, zoologist with the Museum of Natural History.

Visitors will also discover how belugas "see" by hearing sound, find out what they eat, learn how long they live and discover who is threatening them. Beluga: The Next Wave challenges its audience to imagine what the life of a beluga is really like and to explore ways belugas everywhere depend on us.

Belugas are the only species of white whales in the world and are known for their round heads and smiling faces. Blessed with complex vocalization and a keen sense of hearing they have earned the reputation as sea canaries.

Belugas are known to socialize with human beings. Nova Scotians may be familiar with Wilma the beluga whale, who swam with whale watchers like Ed Hanczaryk in Guysborough Harbour.

Paul Brodie, a research scientist specializing in marine mammals, describes the beluga as an acoustical arctic aquabat.

"Think of the least inviting and the most dangerous habitat for a whale, and this is where you will find the white whale, or beluga," he said. "It must cope with pack ice, shallow and muddy tidal estuaries, months of near-total darkness and weeks without food."

Belugas: The Next Wave was built in honour of the Biodôme's fifth anniversary.

"The original idea was to have live belugas swimming in our tank," said Anne Charpentier. "A special committee decided that housing real belugas would not be practical. Instead we created a comprehensive exhibit that would tell the beluga's story from a social, historical, scientific and artistic point of view."

Belugas: The Next Wave was produced by the Montréal Biodôme in co-operation with the Société des amis du Biodôme de Montréal, the Groupe de recherche et d'éducation sur le milieu marin and the Société de biologie de Montréal, with financial support from St. Lawrence Vision 2000, the Department of Canadian Heritage (Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park), the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec, and the Ministère de l'environment et de la faune du Québec.

Whale watchers, families, students and naturalists everywhere can explore this exhibit at the Museum of Natural History, 1747 Summer St., in Halifax. This exhibit is free to the public. Call 902-424-7353 for more information.

NOTE TO EDITORS: The following people are available for interviews at the contact information provided.

• Andrew Hebda, zoologist Museum of Natural History 902-424-6455

• Paul Brodie: research scientist specializing in marine mammals 902-422-1053

• Ed Hanczaryk, whale watching tour operator, with Wilma, 902- 468-2726