Witnesses to History - Documenting the Amazing Stories of Beluga and Human Interactions in Cook Inlet over the Last 100 Years

A beluga whale swimming in the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta

Last month during a visit to the Georgia aquarium I joined hundreds of visitors pressed up against the acrylic windows to watch belugas play with their food.  They would take their fish morsels and play with them much the same way a cat plays with a mouse - constantly in control but delighting in being able to place the food in novel situations so it could be regurgitated and regathered.  It was a captivating spectacle, particularly as the GA aquarium provides such an amazing viewpoint - only rarely do humans get to see what happens underwater - much of our inferences about marine animal behavior are made from vantage points above the waterline...

Last week we met with some folks who have lived with belugas all of their lives in the Cook Inlet region of Alaska.  Some had memories of belugas dating back 50 years; other were more recent.  As we described in a  subsequent interview with the Peninsula Clarion (see http://peninsulaclarion.com/news/2011-10-01/beluga-dialogue), every person we met with demonstrated the same remarkable level of curiosity about belugas as the visitors to the Georgia aquarium - they really are compelling creatures!

Cook Inlet Beluga Whales in Kenai Waters Oral History Project Team

(l-r. Ian Dutton, Janet Klein, Karen Cain, Ricky Deel, Casey Schulke, Hillary Lebail, Joseph Hunt, Rebekka Federer)

Over the past 4 months, our team has been gathering stories about human interactions with, and observations of, belugas in the Waters of Cook Inlet contained wthin the Kenai Peninsula Borough.  The Borough is the sponsor of the project and covers the majority of Cook Inlet waters.

Map showing Kenai Peninsula Borough boundaries

Our project seeks to address a critical gap in knowledge about the historical distribution and use of habitat by Cook Inlet Beluga Whales (CIBW) in waters of the Kenai Peninsula Borough (KPB).  The project involves obtaining the best available historical information on CIBW range and habitat use from “eye witnesses.”  Very little is known about historical patterns of habitat use by CIBW since settlement of the Inlet, particularly in waters of the Kenai Peninsula Borough prior to 1994 when systematic scientific surveys began.  Because there are few alternate ways to obtain such historical data, oral history projects provide important insights. 

The rapid decline in Cook Inlet Beluga Population over the past 20 years

(Source: National Marine Fisheries Service)

As the graph above indicates, the rapid decline in beluga populations and their lack of recovery since protection measures have been put in place may result in the loss of this charismatic species from Cook Inlet within our lifetime.  Our project will provide both information that may be otherwise unavailable to those involved in planning for CIBW recovery that may help identify factors involved in population decline, as well as insights into habitat use and human interactions that may help with conservation and education efforts.  Results will be shared online (via a report) and through an exhibit at the SeaLife Center by early 2012.

To date we have interviewed more than 100 residents and visitors who have observations of CIBW from before 1994.  If you know anyone who might have information or stories to share, please ask them  to contact Casey Schulke at the Alaska SeaLife Center on (907) 224-7903 or by email caseys@alaskasealife.org. 

If you would prefer to provide information via an online survey, please log onto http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BelugaSightingsinKenaiWaters