STOP Petting That Beluga! Billy Is In Danger.

By: Katharine Rose Fielding

Who hasn’t dreamed of living in a world where cuddling friendly wild animals was safe and morally acceptable?

Townspeople in a small Newfoundland village got to experience that dream this summer, but it turns out it’s a dream that is better left unrealized.

A young beluga whale given the name ‘Billy’ has become a little too fond of the town of Admiral’s Beach, where he has been hanging out for the past four months.

The 8-foot youngster has charmed his way into the hearts of the locals, who pet his head and rub his belly when he pops up next to their boats.

Throughout the summer, Billy has taken to following boats closely, playing around with mooring lines in the water, and cozying up to townspeople who want to swim with him.

Three Belugas; http://inotternews.com/?p=3310

While this may sound like an animal-lover’s dream come true, this behavior is dangerous for young Billy. Wild animals that lose their fear of humans become easy targets for harassment or accidental death at the hands of people. In 2002, a similar lonely beluga in Newfoundland got too friendly with humans, and died after getting hit by a boat propeller.

Just last summer, authorities were called about yet another beluga that frequented the waters around Newfoundland. After some people reportedly tried to lasso and ride the whale, some of the townspeople decided enough was enough and called in the Federal Fisheries Department to put a stop to it.

Check out this Youtube video of the 2015 beluga in Newfoundland from user Gene Lye:

Hopefully the people that Billy has befriended will realize that if they really care for the whale and all wildlife, they will do what’s best for him and stop encouraging him to hang around. And as for Billy, let’s hope he’s able to overcome his teenage infatuation with humans and find a family a little more like him.

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