Beluga whales under threat

Russian sanctuary built to protect these creatures of the ice

Beluga whales received a visit from scuba divers braving the icy waters of the White Sea to photograph and monitor them.

Although not yet on the endangered list, these whales are under threat from pollution and loss of habitat; in 2006 they were relocated to a sanctuary designed and built by marine biologists from St Petersburg University, where they are thriving.

With the natural bay under the ice protecting the whales from the strong oceanic currents, the sanctuary acts as a nursery as well as serving as a rehabilitation centre for former performing animals. But while the whales are comfortable in these harsh surroundings, humans face extremely tough conditions to get close to them.

Arctic diver and photographer Franco Banfi said: “As a photographer, I’ve always been driven to bring photographs of animals one hardly ever sees on a printed page, but shooting in very cold water can turn into a logistical nightmare."

After making a hole in the three-foot-deep ice with a hand saw to get to the sea, teams have to swim in heavy layers of clothes in the -10°C waters, while one of them stays above ground in -30°C winds to make sure the ice hole doesn’t freeze over and trap the group. "When we come out on land temperatures can get down to –10°C or -20°C and things instantly freeze," Banfi said. "So we can barely move. Cold itself will not hurt the equipment, but it may slow down some of its functions as well as our own."

Banfi is keen on showing this undersea world to those who can’t or won't brave the icy depths themselves.

"I want to see these amazing animals in a way that only a few people have seen and I want to share it with others.”