New scientific review highlights the complex and culturally rich social lives of belugas

Belugas live in far more complex and culturally rich societies than many people realize. A new scientific review brings together decades of research to provide the most complete picture yet of the social nature of belugas.

In the study, a research team including Raincoast scientists compiled decades of findings on beluga sociality and culture, uncovering evidence of intricate fission-fusion dynamics, sexual segregation, male social bonds, and female networks. Their synthesis highlights that belugas not only form shifting groups but also maintain multi-level societies that may be organized into at least four levels: mother-calf pairs, groups, herds, and broader communities.

Key insights from the research include:

• Cultural traditions: Belugas exhibit cultural behaviour in the form of migratory culture: the maintenance of migratory routes that are passed down from mother to calf. Belugas may also possess local dialects, a form of vocal culture.
• Male friendships: Male belugas sometimes form close associations lasting weeks to months, though further research is needed to determine whether these bonds rival the long-term male alliances seen in other cetaceans.
• Female bonds with relatives and non-kin: Female belugas undergo menopause, similar to humans and some matrilineal whales. However, unlike strictly matrilineal species, where all group members belong to the same lineage, female belugas form groups that include both relatives and unrelated individuals. This suggests that belugas are matrifocal (loosely structured around mothers), rather than strictly matrilineal.

“Our review shows that belugas are not only highly social, but that their societies are structured in remarkably complex and flexible ways,” said Dr. Aubin [Raincoast Conservation Foundation and University of Windsor]. “These findings highlight how much more we still have to learn about the social and cultural lives of these enigmatic whales.”

The review underscores the importance of studying beluga societies in depth, both to understand the evolution of social complexity in mammals and to inform conservation efforts. Social bonds and cultural traditions, such as learned migration routes, can determine where belugas go, how they find food, and how they respond to disturbances. As belugas face mounting threats from climate change and human activities, understanding how they organize their lives can help scientists and managers design protection measures that safeguard the groups, habitats, and cultural behaviours that are key to their survival. 

Citation

Aubin JA, Mennill DJ, Michaud R, Vergara V. 2026. Beluga societies: the social and cultural lives of an enigmatic odontocete. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 80(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-025-03630-3.

A‌bstract

Beluga whales live in complex societies, but their social structure and cultural lives are poorly described compared to those of some other cetaceans. In this review, we summarize the evidence for fission-fusion social dynamics, sexual segregation, male alliances, female social structure, multilevel sociality, and cultural traditions among belugas. We compile evidence of atomistic, individual-based social dynamics within beluga societies. We show that most beluga societies are sexually segregated, although there is considerable intra-specific variation in the social structure of belugas. Our review of research on male beluga sociality reveals that males sometimes associate closely, and that these associations can last for weeks to months. Further research is needed to determine whether these associations are stable and long-lived, as in other cetaceans. Our examination of female beluga sociality, including our assessment of the influence of maternal kinship, reveals equivocal findings. Growing evidence suggests that female beluga sociality is partly driven by maternal kinship, and that the degree to which female belugas associate with kin may vary seasonally. Therefore, female beluga sociality may be best defined as “matrifocal” rather than “matrilineal”. We review the evidence supporting a multilevel social structure among belugas and suggest four possible social levels: the mother-calf dyad, the group, the herd, and the community. Finally, we discuss migratory and vocal culture among belugas. Our review showcases the complex social lives of this enigmatic species and highlights important areas for future research.

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