While it may sound quite like a scene from the famous whale movie ‘Free Willy,’ recent news reported a Beluga Whale that sensed the distress of a free diver and saved her from drowning by pushing her up to the surface.
The story of Mila the Beluga Whale
Free diver Yang Yun owes her life to a Beluga whale named Mila at Polar Land in Harbin, northeast China. News reported that the 26-year-old free diver had been participating in a free diving contest without any breathing apparatus. Competitors had to swim to the bottom of a 20ft arctic pool and stay there for as long as possible. The large tank was home to beluga whales, one of which spotted diver Yang Yun struggling as her legs were paralyzed with crippling cramps due to the cold temperatures.
Lucky Yun told a reporter: “I began to choke and sank even lower, and I thought that was it for me —I was dead. This was until I felt this incredible force under me driving me to the surface.”
The Beluga Mila was said to have helped Yun by grabbing her leg with its mouth before organizers noticed the problem. They watched in amazement how using her sensitive dolphin-like nose, the whale guided the helpless diver safely to the surface.
Beluga whales, like dolphins, are known for their intelligence, sensitivity, and playfulness towards humans. These social creatures can grow up to 15ft (5m) in length and are a striking white color with a humped head. Unlike other whales, Beluga is popular for its amusing facial expressions and almost perpetual smile, giving it a friendly face. An amazing fact about this whale is that it, unlike most whales, can swim backward.
The decreasing population of this species has led to its inclusion on the Endangered list. These whales are primarily found in the icy waters off the coasts of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Russia. The biggest threat to their survival is human-caused pollution from rivers that flow into the oceans where these whales live. Hunting also poses a significant risk to their numbers.
Conclusion
Let the incredible tale of Mila, the heroic Beluga whale, remind us of the challenges facing our oceans today.
