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

Sidney, BC: 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.