Beluga whales have a wide variety of food options, mainly consisting of different animals. Living in the ocean, they can hunt many animals around them. The most common food is fish. Various species of fish appear in different seasons, and the fish that belugas eat most frequently include salmon, cod, and others. In addition to fish, belugas also hunt cephalopods like squid and octopus, as well as crustaceans such as shrimp and crabs. They also eat some plankton, with some species being very large in size. In aquariums, beluga whales are fed similar foods, with fish and shrimp being the most common.
1. What Do Beluga Whales Eat?
Beluga whales are a type of whale, and they have a broad diet, primarily consisting of meat. Living in the ocean, belugas can hunt many animals around them. Fish are the most common prey, with a wide variety, such as salmon, cod, and others. The fish species they consume vary depending on the season, as different fish appear during different times of the year. In addition to fish, belugas also hunt various cephalopods, such as squid and octopus, and crustaceans like shrimp. They also consume plankton, some of which are quite large in size.
Belugas can also be kept in captivity, and in aquariums, they are fed similar types of food. Fish of all kinds are common, but shrimp, crabs, and octopus are also frequently included.
2. How Do Beluga Whales Hunt?
Living in the ocean, beluga whales need to hunt for their food. Due to their high intelligence, belugas are very skilled hunters and use various techniques when hunting. For example, when they want to capture larger animals, they may use smaller animals as bait to attract the larger ones. Once the larger animals are drawn in, they take the opportunity to capture and swallow them.
Sometimes, belugas will take in a large volume of seawater, along with fish, shrimp, and other animals. They do not swallow all the seawater, but instead, they press their tongues to expel most of the water from their mouths. After releasing the majority of the seawater, the beluga swallows the remaining fish, shrimp, and other animals.
