Princess of whales: How a naked female scientist tries to tame belugas in the freezing Arctic

By Daily Mail Reporter
Created 11:47 PM on 15th June 2011

Braving sub-zero temperatures, she has thrown caution — and her clothes — to the wind to tame two beluga whales in a unique and controversial experiment.

Natalia Avseenko, 36, was persuaded to strip naked as marine experts believe belugas do not like to be touched by artificial materials such as diving suits.

The skilled Russian diver took the plunge as the water temperature hit minus 1.5 degrees Centigrade.

The beauty of nature: Like a scene from a classic pre-Raphaelite painting, naked Natalia Avseenko swims with beluga whales in the Arctic

The beauty of nature: Like a scene from a classic pre-Raphaelite painting, naked Natalia Avseenko swims with beluga whales in the Arctic

Belugas are famed for the way in which their faces are able to convey human-like expressions. Certainly Matrena and Nilma seemed to enjoy frolicking with Natalia.

The taming of the whales happened in the Murmansk Oblast region in the far north-west of Russia at the shore of the White Sea near the Arctic Circle branch of the Utrish Dophinarium.

 

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An area of the sea is enclosed  to stop whales and dolphins getting out and instructors tame the mammals before they are transported to dolphinariums around the world — a practice many animal conservationists consider cruel.

Belugas have a small hump on their heads used for echo-location and it was thought that there would be more chance of striking up a rapport with them without clothes as a barrier.

Breathtaking: the scientist uses yoga techniques to hold her breath for up to ten minutes at a time ask she frolics with the whales, Nilma and Matrena

Breathtaking: the scientist uses yoga techniques to hold her breath for up to ten minutes at a time ask she frolics with the whales, Nilma and Matrena

Come on in, the water's lovely: The whales wait for Natalia to take the plunge, but the sub-zero waters are enough to kill most people within five minutes

Come on in, the water's lovely: The whales wait for Natalia to take the plunge, but the sub-zero waters are enough to kill most people within five minutes

The average human could die if left in sub-zero temperature sea water for just five minutes.

However, Natalia is a yoga expert and used meditation techniques to hold her breath and stay under water for an incredible ten minutes and 40 seconds.

There are around 100,000 belugas in the wild.

The first to be held in captivity was shown at Barnum's Museum in New York in 1861, and there are belugas in aquariums and sea life parks across Europe, North America and Asia.

Their large range of 'facial expressions' comes from them having a more flexible bone structure than other whales.
Certainly these two had a big smile for the naked Natalia.

Rare space: Natalia's encounters with the whales take place in an area of sea which is enclosed to stop whales and dolphins getting out

Rare space: Natalia's encounters with the whales take place in an area of sea which is enclosed to stop whales and dolphins getting out

Attraction: There are around 100,000 belugas in the wild but they are also in sea life parks and aquariums around the world
Here's looking at you: Belugas have a wider range of 'facial expressions' due to a more flexible bone structure

Here's looking at you: Belugas have a wider range of 'facial expressions' due to a more flexible bone structure, and it has made them a hit in aquariums around the world

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Well, that's just pretty awesome.

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the official longest free dive time for a woman is 8 minutes 23 seconds, without frolicking with whales and in comfortable body temp water. not that I believe this story for a minute, but Natalia should call up Guinness

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Amazing!!! her capabilities to just stay in that cold water and for so long. Great acheivement Natalia!! cheers to you!! keep me informed please..:))

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hey guys.... wake up...... those animals are in captivity.... in one of the worst resort on earth... and many associations are trying to closed down for bad manners on daulphins... LOOK AT THE RUSTY WALLS OF THEIR CAGE.... ITS ALL FULL OF SHAME... this femal scientist ????... she is a freediver not a scientist... she is just doing self promotion... just google "Utrish Dophinarium" and see how cute the life of those animal in capitivity is... and last but not least under water the see is blue not rusty brown... so the picture from outside where you see here with two " cameraman scientist" is just how those animal lives... in a rusty cage .... GET REAL....

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Ten minutes, no breath at that temp with no weights to keep her down. What a crock! Photoshopped! I suppose it hasn't reduced the attention that the 'diver' has a great figure.

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Russian ladies must be some of the toughest on the planet and I'm full of admiration for them. These photos rate as best pictures of the year, illustrating the possible fusion of humans and another intelligent animal species. As the article mentions, there is an analogy with classic paintings. This lady deserves an award of some kind. I'm sure that Premier Putin would agree.

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Lucky she wasn't swimming with sperm wales, sh'es not wearing any protection.

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Wow! Amazing woman and amazing photos! Frowny face because the whales are going into captivity though!

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True beauty! Well done.

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Natalia Avseenko is not just any woman, she is two-times world champion in freediving and a Yoga master! She teaches freediving and she also holds a degree in Cultural studies. There is plenty of info about her on the net in Russian. This is yet another feat by this remarkable woman. She is beautiful and athletic, and not fat at all, sorry. Look up other pictures of her on the net, where she is out of the water. I wish there were more people like her on our planet - beautiful, strong, brave, highly intelligent. By the way, It is quite true that in Russian this type of whale is called BeluHa. BeluGa is a type of fish.

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