The Reason Scientists Say Beluga Whales Can Communicate With Humans

According to History Daily, beluga whales are more communicative than humpback whales, sperm whales, or any other type of whale. However, while humpback whales and other mammals use vocal cords to form "speech," beluga whales lack this body part. Instead, they push air "through the nasal sacs near their blowholes" to produce a series of "clicks, whistles, trills, and other noises," per History Daily. Through these noises, beluga whales are able to communicate, find food, and warn each other of predators using echolocation.

The varying and numerous ways in which beluga whales communicate have won them the nickname of the "canaries of the sea," according to National Geographic. Native to the Arctic, where long stretches of darkness occur, beluga whales heavily rely on sound rather than sight to navigate. However, ships and other human developments have blocked their ability to use echolocation communication, muting beluga whale calls and causing calves to lose track of their clan.