February 12, 2013
For many of us, the Arctic is just a far-away corner of the planet that we may never see. So why should we care about it? “It isn’t just about polar bears,” says Dr. Sylvia Earle. “Although they are the Arctic’s biggest predator and cutest mascot, there is much more at stake in this rich and largely unexplored ecosystem than you’d think.” Our lives depend the stability of the Arctic – one reason that Dr. Earle has declared the Arctic region as a Mission Blue ‘Hope Spot.’
The images created by Virginia Bria celebrate the beauty of our fragile blue planet. The complete collection of her work is on her website, Bella Sirena Images.
Here, Virginia encounters a group of beluga whales who are clearly curious and unconcerned by her presence. Easily recognizable thanks to the adults’ stark white coloring, Belugas are very social animals, and it’s possible to see pods numbering in the hundreds in Hudson Bay, Canada, where this photo was taken.
Visit Arkive to learn more about Beluga Whales!