United by Nature: Belugas

Replay & Curated Resources

THANK YOU! We raised $1, 125.00 CAD in donations to support Beluga everywhere!
(through live event, replays, frontline donations)

Heartfelt Gratitude!

Thank you so much for your support of United by Nature: Belugasthe second gathering in The United by Nature series. We’re honoured that 42 people around the world, from Australia, Canada, Greece, Norway, South Africa, the Netherlands, the UK, and the USA donated to the event held on November 15, 2025, showing care and support for Belugas everywhere!

More Gratitude!

We are deeply grateful to featured guest Kristen Houser of Fauna Speak for sharing her insights, lived experience, and supportive wisdom.

You’re invited to continue the Cetacean conversation at Fauna Speak’s monthly Whale + Dolphin Circle. December 2025 marks Kristen’s 8th year of hosting the monthly Whale + Dolphin Circle!

Concluding Reflections
from United by Nature: Belugas
11/15/25

As we all now well know, the Beluga are as prolific of coordinators as they are excellent communicators. They didn’t cease in shaping the concluding correspondence of this event as much as they inspired it altogether (around equinox). And to reiterate, this truly is a beginning. An aperture ever-expanding of the opportunity for palpable connection and cooperation amongst our species. And that is the effervescent essence of this event I am carrying forth: dynamic, artful, inspired Beluga collaboration. The subsequent contents of my closing letter will buoy this aspiration.

Thank you all so much for attending, contributing energetically and monetarily to the Belugas we all adore. Thank you Christine for curating such an impeccable event; evidence of your devotion. And thank you Beluga, for showing us the way, deeper into our hearts and the future planted inside them.

Thoughtfully,
Kristen

PS - Let’s keep connecting! You can join my mailing list (top left), email faunaspeak@gmail.com if you want to attend the next or any Whale + Dolphin Circle and/or receive 1:1 reflection and guidance from the Cetaceans in an individualized session

PPS - I felt inspired to create an image we could make our lock screen, reminding us to both share and receive with the Belugas. You are also welcome to share this image on social media and any reflections from our gathering. Feel free to screenshot!

A digitally created image of a whale with a miniature whale on its back, both depicted in realistic blue tones, against a plain light background.

Event Replay

Curated Resources

Please note this is not an exhaustive list rather what came up during preparation for this event. Please use your own intuitive discernment and due diligence when exploring these resources. Please take what resonates and let the rest fall away.

Beluga at Marineland

A collage of beluga whales, each labeled with a different name, swimming in water. The names include Acadia, Balor, Bertie Botts, Calypso, Caspian, Cleopatra, Cyprus, Eve, Frankie, Gemini, Gimli, Jasper, Jellybean, Lillooet, Meeka, Neva, Odin, Orion, Osiris, Peekachu, Rain, Secord, Sierra, Skyla, Tank, Toofino, Xavier, Xena, Yukon, Zephyr.

In the News

Latest News (since this event)

Marineland gets ‘conditional approval’ from Ottawa to ship 30 belugas, 4 dolphins to U.S. (CBC, updated January 27, 2026)

Current News (around time of event)

The fate of Marineland’s belugas expose the ethical cracks in Canadian animal law* (The Conversation, October 26, 2025)

Animal lawyers call on Ontario to protect Marineland’s belugas (The Canadian Bar Association, October 15, 2025)

Beluga trainer fired by Marineland speaks out (The Canadian Press, October 14, 2025)

Updates on the Beluga Whales at Marineland Canada (The Whale Sanctuary Project, May 2023 - October 2025)

Historical News

Still-shuttered Marineland puts its amusement park rides up for sale* (CBC, June 20, 2025)

Marineland succeeds in bid to sever property so it can raise money to move animals* (CTV, February 19, 2025)

*With thanks to Marilyn Harris for sharing

Recent Event Replays

Animal Justice
The Future of Marineland’s Whales & Dolphins (online panel)
One of the more recent proposal discussed in this panel: Oasis Sanctuaries
A global vision for inland sanctuaries (including Marineland in Niagara Falls, Canada)

The Whale Sanctuary Project
The Paper they Tried to Suppress
Read peer reviewed study: An update on captive cetacean welfare

Videos

Documentaries

Born to be Free (Netflix) 74 mins
Casting a light on the mistreatment of sea mammals, this documentary follows the plight of 18 Beluga whales kept in captivity for years. (2016 - may not be available for viewing in all regions).

Call of the Baby Beluga (National Geographic) 60 mins
A heart-warming story of the way belugas live their social and communicative lives, and of a stalwart group of scientists who use knowledge and compassion to try to save that endangered baby, her extended family, and the threatened future we all share. (2016).

The Mystery of the Belugas
different running times depending on the format
Amazon Prime Video: The documentary is available as the first episode of the Animal Tales series.
Apple TV: It is also available on Apple TV, listed as Animal Tales Series 4, Episode 1.
Over four seasons, we share the daily life of an international group of scientists who study this extraordinary species in its native habitat to better comprehend their existence and understand why they are endangered. Watch the trailer. (2018).

Sonic Sea (NRDC in partnership with IFAW) 60 mins
This Emmy award–winning, 60-minute documentary is about the devastating impact of industrial and military ocean noise on whales and other marine life. Watch the trailer. (2016).

Collision 1 hour 25 mins
(offers links to watch on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, GooglePlay, YouTube, Vimeo, Vudu)
COLLISION presents how a worldwide increase in shipping traffic is threatening our oceans, its inhabitants and the planet. It focuses on the under-reported issue of fatal ship strikes on whales, a threat which is endangering their very existence. The film not only highlights the issues but also presents clear and available solutions to encourage governments, authorities and global shipping companies to make vital changes. The Ocean Souls Films team partnered with leading scientists, NGO’s and worldwide authorities, ensuring an accurate and scientifically based account of the realities of the harsh impact of marine traffic on ocean life. Watch the trailer. (2023 - may not be available for viewing in all regions).

Cetacean Organisations

Arctic Watch  Beluga  Foundation
Federal Canadian Charity for Arctic Research & Conservation.

Beluga Whale Alliance
Beluga Whale Alliance (BWA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization devoted to supporting the worldwide and local conservation of beluga whales and their Arctic and subarctic habitats through science-focused outreach, education, collaboration, community participation, and research.

Dolphin Project
Dedicated to the Welfare & Protection of Dolphins Worldwide Since Earth Day 1970. Watch the Academy Award® Winning Documentary, THE COVE.

GREMM
A non-profit organization dedicated to scientific research on the whales of the St. Lawrence and education for the sake of marine conservation.

OneWhale
At OneWhale, our mission is to protect Hvaldimir, while we advocate for his future in the wild with other belugas, so that he is no longer lost and alone. Our efforts also include co-founding the Norwegian Whale Reserve, with the vision to free other whales from captivity and provide them a natural safe haven in the arctic.

SEA Life Trust
The SEA LIFE TRUST is a registered charity working globally to protect our world’s oceans and the amazing marine life that lives within them.

Tide Breakers
On a mission to end cetacean captivity.

The Whale Sanctuary Project
Bringing an end to the exploitation of captive whales by creating seaside sanctuaries where they can live in a natural environment.
The Whales Who Are Candidates for the Sanctuary (October 28, 2025)

Whale Guardians
Whale Guardians™ is a league of ports, industry, conservation, & more who are dedicated to preventing unintentional ship strikes on whales. The group works together to implement voluntary routing measures and speed reductions in maritime areas where whales are concentrated, helping to prevent collisions and protect critically endangered whale populations. 

Books

Why Whales Sing,* by Eduardo Mercado (III)
*With thanks to Barbara Shor for recommending this new release

Soul of the Wild: Intimate Messages from the Hearts and Souls of Elephants and Whales, (original edition) by Barbara Shor, DVM

Event Beneficiaries

  • Animal Justice

    Protecting Belugas in Captivity

    Animal Justice is Canada’s only national animal law organisation, dedicated to securing stronger legal protections for animals. They are actively advocating for the Belugas held at Marineland in Niagara Falls, pressing for ethical, legal, and compassionate outcomes for their care and future.

    Logo with a dove holding scales, and the text 'Animal Justice'
  • Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC)

    Protecting Belugas in the Wild

    Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) is a global charity dedicated to the protection of whales and dolphins worldwide. Their work for Belugas focuses on safeguarding Arctic and sub-Arctic populations from threats such as climate change, shipping, and captivity.

    Logo of WDC Whale and Dolphin Conservation, featuring a large 'WDC' and the organization's name to the right.

Acknowledgement of Donations

The live event raised $1,055.00 CAD, which, when shared equally between our two beneficiaries, amounted to $527.50 CAD each. The donation to Whale and Dolphin Conservation was converted into British Pounds (GBP). On the day the donation was made $527.50 CAD = £278.00 GBP.

Additional donations of $70.00 CAD were received following the live event which have been shared equally between the beneficiaries. The donation to Whale and Dolphin Conservation was converted into British Pounds (GBP). On the day the donation was made $35.00 CAD = £18.36 GBP.

A total of $1, 125.00 CAD was raised and shared between the two event beneficiaries. Thank you for your support!

Animal Justice donation receipt showing amount of $527.50, dated 16/11/2025, with a logo of a dove holding scales at the top of the page.
Thank you letter from Animal Justice, including their logo with a bird holding scales, addressed to Christine, expressing gratitude for a donation of $35, dated February 18, 2026.
Two whales swimming in the ocean during daylight.
RBC Royal Bank Foreign Exchange Currency Converter webpage showing exchange rate from Canadian Dollar (CAD) to Pounds Sterling (GBP), with a conversion amount of $527.50 CAD to £277.03 GBP.
Logo for Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) with text thanking supporters and emphasizing the importance of protecting whales and dolphins.
Screenshot of Royal Bank's foreign exchange currency converter webpage showing the conversion rate from Canadian Dollar (CAD) to Pounds Sterling (GBP). The user has $35.00 CAD, which converts to 18.36 GBP at a rate of 0.52463 for CAD to GBP, and a rate of 1.90610 for GBP to CAD. The date displayed is February 18, 2026.