© Pascal Kobeh / naturepl.com / WWF
Features
Arctic whale tales: Stories from the far north
- Beluga
- Bowhead whale
- Narwhal
Whether spotting these marine giants breach the water’s surface, looking over from the side of a boat or catching a glimpse underwater, seeing a whale in its habitat can be a magical, memorable experience. For World Whale Day, we asked WWF staff and our audience to tell us about their best Arctic whale story. Here’s the incredible tales they shared.
Hundreds of beluga near baffin island, nunavut
Josh Ostroff, senior editorial specialist for WWF-Canada, was on an expedition in the Canadian Arctic and got to see polar bears, walrus and hundreds of beluga whales.
It was wild. Watching these amazing belugas, as curious about us as we were about them,
— Josh Ostroff, senior editorial specialist for WWF-Canada
© Sadie Ainsworth
Humpback whales in Iceland's fjords
Sadie Ainsworth, an audience contributor, shared the magic of seeing humpback whales while driving through
“Leaving town inevitably means a long meandering drive through Icelandic fjords is ahead. Often, a blow or fluke of a humpback whale can be spotted from the car window. Whenever this happens, like a prayer, I whisper hello whales. Humpback whales are the guardian angels of the sea and my heart. It’s often in nature where I find the best guidance. Humpbacks are one of the greatest teachers to demonstrate compassion. Numerous recordings have been documented of humpback whales protecting seals and other cetaceans from preying killer whale pods, despite no known benefits for the humpbacks, they enter the fight to protect another species. A humpback whale sighting has now become my omen of a safe passage. Killer whales are predators of humpback whales too, yet they choose to use their power to protect those traveling.”
A humpback whale sighting has now become my omen of a safe passage.
— Sadie Ainsworth, contributor
Narwhal in the Canadian High Arctic
Melanie Lancaster, senior Arctic specialist for WWF’s Global Arctic Programme, was on a research expedition in the Canadian High Arctic. After some patience, thousands of narwhal entered the bay where they were camped.
We could hear them breathing. They sounded just like us swimming.
— Melanie Lancaster, senior specialist, Arctic species, WWF Global Arctic Programme
humpback whales off the west coast of greenland
Haruka Matsumoto, an audience contributor, shared her experiences seeing humpback whales in the Amerloq Fjord where she both free and scuba dives:
“In Summer, there are many humpback whales come back to Amerloq Fjord after a long journey. Amerloq Fjord is located in Qeqqata on the west coast of Greenland. In 2024, we spotted at least 7 whales hanging out in the fjord. I scuba/free dive in Greenland and see many whale bones sleeping bottom of the sea. Underwater, sometimes you can hear beautiful sounds like the song of whales, bubbles created by fishes, and seals, or cracking icebergs. Whales make different sounds on the surface of the water when they come to breathe. When I heard the sound of a whale breathing so close, I could feel my body vibrating inside and I forgot to take a breath. The whale breath sound echoes through the mountains in the fjord. Greenlandic people used to wake up to this whale breath sound in the morning. How beautiful Arctic nature is.”
Underwater, sometimes you can hear beautiful sounds like the song of whales, bubbles created by fishes, and seals, or cracking icebergs.
— Haruka Matsumoto, contributor
Bowhead and beluga whales near Utqiagvik, Alaska
Steve MacLean, managing director of the WWF US Arctic Program, shares his most memorable — and perspective changing — whale story from growing up near Utqiagvik, Alaska.
What had previously appeared to me as an empty ice scape was forever changed for me to a busy ocean world. It just took a different perspective for me to see.
— Steve MacLean, managing director, WWF US Arctic Program
Sperm whales 300km north of the Arctic Circle
Sophie Bolesworth, contributor from our audience, shared this tale and images from a research expedition:
“We sailed the 37ft expedition vessel Barba from Tromso to Andøya, 300km North of the Arctic Circle. The conditions had been challenging, 40-knot gusts and -20 wind chill.
––Our seven-man crew set out to observe the behaviours of sperm whales, feeding in deep fertile waters near Bleik.
Onboard, someone shouted- “whale blow 200m to port!” Marine researchers prepared to freedive, and quickly entered the water. I stabilised my lens in the rough waves, and saw my first glimpse of a sperm whale. A beautiful silhouette framed by distant Lofoten peaks. The giant moved steadily through the water towards us; divers just a pinprick against the swell.
These encounters flew by in seconds. Reviewing the images in the evening, we could see the unusual fluke of this whale, unique as a fingerprint – curled down at the edges. The boat’s hydrophone had captured my first glimpse of whale click communication.”
© Sophie Bolesworth
Andreas B. Heide, Emil Gundersen, Aksel E. Ørstavik and Hugh Francis Anderson (left-right) in 40-knot gusts on the deck of Barba; February 2020.
Photo credit: © Sophie Bolesworth
© Sophie Bolesworth
Marine researchers Fabrice Schnöller and Cpt. Andreas B. Heide, successfully freedive and capture unique recordings of sperm whales; February 2020.
Photo credit: © Sophie Bolesworth
© Sophie Bolesworth
Adult sperm whale fluke off the coast Andøya, Arctic Norway; February 2020.
Photo credit: © Sophie Bolesworth
A beautiful silhouette framed by distant Lofoten peaks. The giant moved steadily through the water towards us; divers just a pinprick against the swell.
— Sophie Bolesworth, contributor
By WWF Global Arctic Programme
