Trapped Beluga Whales Could Die Under Ice Covered Bering Sea

A group of about 100 Beluga Whales are stuck under sea ice in the Bering Sea. They are an endangered species and in danger of dying from exhaustion. Russia's nature protection program is doing their best to lead them to open waters.

The Washington Post reports that the ice they are stuck under is 4-6 inches thick. The whales may not be able to swim to open waters and have gathered near small breaks in the ice.

A statement on the website for the Chukotka Autonomous Region reads:

“A group of over 100 Beluga whales are cut off from the sea and are prisoners of ice floes in the Bering Sea.”

Local authorities have requested that Russia send an ice breaker to lead the animals to safety. Local governor Roman Kopin has written a letter to transportation minister Igor Levitin saying that the whales could die of starvation if not helped.

“Given the lack of food and the speed at which the water is freezing, all the animals are threatened with exhaustion and death.”

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