1. Mating Season: Beluga whales have specific mating seasons, which vary depending on the population and geographic location. Mating typically occurs in late spring or early summer when the water temperature is suitable.
2. Social Groups and Bull Competition: Beluga whales live in social groups known as pods. During the mating season, males, known as bulls, compete for access to receptive females. Bulls may engage in dominance displays, vocalizations, and physical interactions to establish their dominance.
3. Courtship and Pairing: Once a bull has established dominance, he will begin courting a receptive female. Courtship behaviors can include swimming alongside her, rubbing against her body, and making vocalizations. The bull may also bring gifts to the female, such as fish or objects found underwater.
4. Vocal Communication: Beluga whales are known for their diverse vocalizations, and they use specific calls during the mating season to communicate with potential mates. These vocalizations can serve to attract females, assert dominance, or maintain contact between individuals.
5. Mating Behavior: The actual mating process involves the bull positioning his body alongside the female and inserting his penis into her vagina. Beluga whales have relatively short copulation durations compared to other cetaceans, lasting only a few seconds to a few minutes.
6. Multiple Partners: Beluga whales are known to have multiple mating partners during a mating season. Both females and males may mate with several different individuals, and females may mate with multiple bulls in a single cycle.
7. Gestation and Calf Care: After successful mating, the female beluga enters a gestation period that can last approximately 14 to 15 months. She will give birth to a single calf, and beluga mothers provide extensive care and protection to their young, nursing them and teaching them survival skills.
It's important to note that beluga whale mating behavior can vary among different populations and may be influenced by factors such as population density, environmental conditions, and social structures within the pod.