Alaska Beluga Monitoring Program

Tues, July 21 @7:15pm. At least 3 belugas at Ship Creek, including a calf! Thank you Paula C. for the report!

We had so much fun at last summer's AKBMP Volunteer Appreciation BBQ, we decided to have another one! If you have volunteered for AKBMP, we would love to celebrate your dedication and hard work! This year's BBQ will be held on Thursday, August 6th! Can't wait to see you there!
Please RSVP on our website: https://akbmp.org/season-updates-sightings/

WOW, our fall 2026 beluga monitoring season is just around the corner and arriving fast! Are you a local resident looking to be a part of Cook Inlet beluga conservation? We will be holding our new volunteer virtual orientation on Tuesday, August 18 from 6-7:30 PM AKST or you can watch a recording afterwards at your own convenience. Head to our website at https://akbmp.org/volunteer/ to register for the live event or receive the recording!

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Alaska Wildlife Alliance
Defenders of Wildlife
Kenai Peninsula College
NOAA Fisheries Service

We are aware of an AI generated story currently circulating online that falsely claims a beluga whale escaped from an aquarium research facility in Seward, Alaska and returned to Cook Inlet to reunite with her calf. As the only research facility with a public aquarium in Seward, Alaska, we can confirm that this information is false, and the events described never occurred.

Unfortunately, AI generated stories and images can sometimes appear convincing, even when they are completely fictional.

We pride ourselves in sharing the work our team does transparently, and trusted information about our wildlife response efforts, marine mammal conservation, and research can always be found on our official website and verified social media accounts. We also encourage looking to trusted sources like established news organizations that verify information before publication and trusted agencies.

Learn the real story about how Alaska SeaLife Center cared for two orphaned beluga calves through our Wildlife Response Program (one in 2012 and the other in 2017). Their care contributed to peer reviewed scientific research that has advanced our understanding of beluga whale rehabilitation and conservation. The article below highlights those cases and the scientific publications that resulted from them: https://www.alaskasealife.org/news_item/153

More on Naknek, admitted in 2012:
https://alaskapublic.org/programs/2012-06-20/video-rescued-beluga-whale-calf

More on Tyonek, admitted in 2017:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/media-release/stranded-cook-inlet-beluga-whale-calf-safely-transported-alaska-sealife-center

If you have additional questions, please send us a message. You can also help by sharing the real stories of beluga rehabilitation and conservation in Alaska, and the science that continues to improve our understanding of this endangered population.

4 adult (white) belugas around Ship Creek and the Port now (Thursday 18 June 3:07pm) . Thank you for the report & photo Ryan Ernest.

Exciting news! A scientific paper on Cook Inlet beluga whales was published TODAY. This paper investigates beluga whale presence and anthropogenic activity in the Kenai River and Kasilof River using acoustic monitoring and visual observations data from the AKBMP. Congratulations to Sonia Kumar and co-authors on publishing this important work! And thank you to our dedicated AKBMP volunteers for collecting data that complements this research. A link to the paper can be found below.

https://www.int-res.com/journals/esr/articles/esr01509

June 17 @ 2:19 PM. At least 3 belugas at the mouth of Ship Creek. Thank you Kate S. for the report!!!

We have finalized our data from the Spring 2026 monitoring season! This season was impressive given the cold weather our volunteers endured coupled with less beluga sightings compared to previous spring AKBMP seasons. Head to our Data Utility page at akbmp.org to view a more detailed visual summary report. Thank you to all our local volunteers and supporters from afar for being a part of and bringing awareness to Cook Inlet beluga recovery efforts!

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Alaska Wildlife Alliance, Beluga Whale Alliance, Defenders of Wildlife, Kenai Peninsula College, NOAA Fisheries Service

Looking for a fun activity this upcoming weekend? You are in luck!

On Saturday, June 6th, we will be tabling at ADF&G's Potter Marsh Discovery Day from 12-4PM! Stop by our table to learn more about Cook Inlet belugas, upcoming events, and look at cool marine mammal parts. This is a free, family-friendly event, and all are welcome. We look forward to seeing you!

More information can be found on the event webpage: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=anchoragecoastal.discoveryday