SKULL
Geography
New Glasgow, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Dimensions30 x 65 x 42 cm (11 13/16 x 25 9/16 x 16 9/16 in.)
Object numberHF.2014.01.15
DescriptionThe skull of a beluga whale which is missing the bottom jaw. The stop of the skull is mostly flat with a slightly downward curve towards the front tip. There is a 38cm split in the bone which starts at the front edge. The back of the skull is round with three holes positioned like an upside-down triangle. The hole at the bottom center is framed by two semicircular protrusions. The bottom corners of the skull on the left and right come to a downward point. The interior has many notches, holes and channels and is darkly discoloured in places. On the front edge of the interior (outer edge of mouth's roof) 9 circular holes are present. Narrative
Beluga Whales (Delphinapterus leucas) are medium sized toothed whales. Populations of Beluga Whales regularly inhabit northern regions of Canada, in addition to the St. Lawrence Estuary Belugas whose southern most limit is Chaleur Bay, NB.? Northern populations of Beluga Whales have extensive seasonal migrations, while the migration of St. Lawrence Estuary Belugas is limited. Beluga Whales have been sighted irregularly in the waters surrounding PEI since 1938, and as recently as 2021 in both Mount Stewart and Colville Bay.?
St. Lawrence Estuary Belugas are considered Critically Imperiled due to widespread population declines. The species is protected under federal Species at Risk Act. Their populations are threatened by diverse vessel traffic within the Gulf of St. Lawrence.? Beluga populations were heavily impacted by commercial whaling, with a total of 15,000 St. Lawrence Beluga Whales believed to have been killed between 1880 and 1972 when whaling was banned from Canadian ports.?
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