There’s nothing cute about a whale wearing lipstick, or keeping marine mammals in captivity
Jason Baker says those entertained by an amusement park employee in China putting lipstick on a beluga whale should understand that keeping marine mammals in captivity at all is harmful to their mental and physical well-being
Stupid stunts like this make it clear that these parks view the animals they hold captive as nothing more than props to exploit for money. Yet belugas are extremely intelligent and social beings. Some scientists even believe they may be the smartest animals on Earth. They convey information to their pod members through a language of chirps, clicks, whistles and squeals. They can also change the shape of their large, bulbous foreheads to make different facial expressions, which are believed to play a role in communication.
They're impressive athletes, too, diving as deep as 600 metres in search of food in their ocean homes. During spring and autumn migration, huge pods swim long distances together to and from Arctic waters.
