Bible Speaks

Mexico earthquake of magnitude 8.2 strikes off Pacific coast – Tsunami Alert for México – ? praying for our bothers in Mexico An earthquake described by Mexico's president as the country's strongest in a century has struck off the southern coast, killing at least six people. One person also died in neighbouring Guatemala, its president has said. The quake, which Mexico's leader Enrique Peña Nieto said measured 8.2, struck in the Pacific, about 87km (54 miles) south-west of Pijijiapan. A tsunami warning was issued for Mexico, with three-metre-high waves possible, and other nearby countries. The quake, which struck at 23:50 local time on Thursday (04:50 GMT Friday), was felt in Mexico City, with buildings swaying and people running into the street. The tremors there, about 1,000km from the epicentre, were reported to have lasted up to a minute. President Peña Nieto said some 50 million Mexicans would have felt the tremor and that the death toll might rise.Four deaths were reported in Mexico's Chiapas state, near the epicentre. Two children were killed in Tabasco state, one a baby who died when power was cut to a respirator. Severe damage was reported in southern Mexico and in western Guatemala. Social media images showed collapsed buildings in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, including in the city of the same name and in Juchitan, where the municipal palace and a number of other structures were levelled. Local reports speak of a hospital in Juchitan also collapsing and say there are a number of deaths in the city. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said that tsunami waves "reaching more than three metres above the tide level are possible along the coasts of Mexico". There is a coastal evacuation in Chiapas state, where a state of emergency has been declared. The PTWC warned of tsunami threats for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica, but at lower wave levels. At magnitude 8.2, the quake outstrips the deadly 1985 tremor that hit close to Mexico City and caused thousands of deaths. The US Geological Survey measured the latest quake slightly lower, at 8.1, saying it struck at a depth of 70km. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-41197831?ocid=socialflow_facebook&ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbcnews&ns_source=facebook   Â

“Man and beast you preserve, O Jehovah.” (Psalm 36:6)...The Bible indicates that God places a high value on animal life. The Bible says that at the time of creation, “God went on to make the wild animals of the earth according to their kinds and the domestic animals according to their kinds and all the creeping animals of the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.”—Genesis 1:25...Clearly, Jehovah approves of his animal creation, and he expects humans to treat animals with due regard. –  ?????? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102015126?q=protect+the+animals&p=par#h=23

Practice makes perfect violin ? ? music! Thank you Violin ? Man ??? MP4 Link ___Enjoy! IMG_5487.MP4

@Queen Esther Read on our JW Brothers. ????????????????

Staring into oblivion: Bahamas and Turks and Caicos brace for impact as Hurricane Irma powers on after laying waste to the Caribbean and killing at least 13 on her deadly path to the US 'Monster' Hurricane Irma is expected to make landfall in the Turks and Caicos islands Thursday evening into early Friday The category 5 storm has killed at least 13 so far: Eight on St. Martin, three in Puerto Rico, one in Barbuda and one in Anguilla Extensive damage has been reported on Barbuda and St Martin, with more than 90 per cent of buildings damaged on both islands  Some 900,000 people are without power on Puerto Rico and at least 50,000 people are without water The hurricane is expected to continue past eastern Cuba before veering north for Florida at the weekend Red Cross said it is preparing for 'a major humanitarian response' as UN estimated 49million will be affected Mandatory evacuations were ordered in the Florida Keys and parts of Miami as the scale of the storm emerged The Turks and Caicos are bracing for impact today as Hurricane Irma powers on after laying waste to the Caribbean and killing at least 13 people on her deadly path to the U.S. The powerful category five storm is expected to make landfall in the British oversees territory Thursday night, into Friday morning. Eight people have been killed in the storm so far: Eight on the French/Dutch island of St. Martin, three in Puerto Rico and the islands of Anguilla and Barbuda recorded a death each.  By early Thursday afternoon, the hurricane was north of the Dominican Republic, where authorities reported some flooding and the evacuation of several thousand locals and tourists but no serious damage or casualties. Skies over the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, were still clear just after noon local time. About a million people were without power in Puerto Rico after Irma sideswiped the island, but the damage was nothing compared to the smaller islands that were first hit by the storm.  More than 90 per cent of all properties on the islands and Barbuda and St Martin were destroyed in the storm, leaving thousands homeless. On Barbuda, more than 90 per cent of buildings were damaged when the hurricane's core crossed almost directly over the island early Wednesday - resulting in the death of a child. About 60 per cent of its roughly 1,400 residents were left homeless, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne told The Associated Press. 'It is just really a horrendous situation,' Browne said. He said roads and telecommunications systems were wrecked and recovery would take months, if not years. A two-year-old child was killed as a family tried to escape a damaged home during the storm, Browne said. In Anguilla, officials reported extensive damage to the airport, hospitals, shelters and schools and said 90 per cent of roads were impassable. Photos and video of St. Martin circulating on social media showed major damage to the Philipsburg airport and heavy flooding in the coastal village of Marigot. While the storm passed just north of Puerto Rico on Wednesday, the U.S. territory island suffered three deaths in the storm. More than half the island is still without power as well, leaving more than 900,000 in the dark and 50,000 without water. Fourteen hospitals on the island have resorted to backup generators thanks to the winds which knocked power lines down. Puerto Rico's public power company warned before the storm hit that some areas could be left without power from four to six months because its staff has been reduced and its infrastructure weakened by the island's financial crisis. President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, allowing federal agencies to step in and provide aid. This morning, the United Nations said up to 49 million people are in the hurricane's path as aid agencies prepare for a 'major humanitarian response'. France, the Netherlands and Britain have sent water, emergency rations and rescue teams to their stricken territories. French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said 100,000 food rations were sent to St. Barts and St. Martin, the equivalent of four days of supplies. 'It's a tragedy, we'll need to rebuild both islands,' he said. 'Most of the schools have been destroyed.' Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the storm 'caused wide-scale destruction of infrastructure, houses and businesses.' 'There is no power, no gasoline, no running water. Houses are under water, cars are floating through the streets, inhabitants are sitting in the dark, in ruined houses and are cut off from the outside world,' he said. French President Emmanuel Macron's office said he would go to the islands as soon as the weather permits it. Saying he was 'grief-stricken,' Macron called for concerted efforts to tackle global warming to prevent similar natural disasters. A Dutch navy ship arrived in St. Martin with vital supplies. And two Dutch military aircraft were being sent the island of Curacao and on to St. Martin to deliver food and water intended to last the population of 40,000 five days. The aircraft were carrying 100 extra troops to deliver aid, repair infrastructure and restore order. Meanwhile, residents on the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla said the island was 'utterly devastated' and looked as though it had 'suffered nuclear bomb devastation' while shocking videos have emerged showing the scale of the devastation in the British Virgin Islands. The U.K. government says Irma has inflicted 'severe and in places critical' damage to the British overseas territory of Anguilla. Foreign Office Minister Alan Duncan says the Caribbean island took the full force of the category 5 hurricane. He told lawmakers on Thursday that the British Virgin islands have also suffered 'severe damage.' On another British territory, Monsterrat, the damage is 'not as severe as first thought.' Duncan said the hurricane is expected to hit another British overseas territory, Turks and Caicos, later today. Britain was sending hundreds of troops and the Royal Navy flagship HMS Ocean to Anguilla, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4860396/Irma-hits-Puerto-Rico-damaging-Barbuda-St-Martin.html Â

JUST IN: Hurricane Irma A JW Brother from Puerto Rico: Thanks to the Lord here in Puerto Rico we barely had the impact of the storm. But let me tell you what situation we are with only estimated winds of 90-95 mph. We are without energy / water on 90 % of the island. We have big old trees ripped from their roots. There are places underwater and it's still raining. There are roads closed by water, or fallen trees or cables everywhere. And again, we barely had any winds. We have seen images (via phones) of Barbuda, st. St. Maarten. Thomas, and the situation is worse there. This week was I guess we started our visit to co, and also, a great construction work of our kh by ldc. The Co's visit was suspended, construction work is now pending, because they may need the ldc brothers to move to that island for disaster relief. We thank Jehovah for our great brotherhood who is praying for us. And here we are praying for our brothers and sisters on those islands that may need our help. Our brothers on Irma's path, listen to the instructions of the elders. Listen to the authorities. He doesn't think this can affect him. Save your life. May Jehovah bless you all. I'm gonna try to publish sooner. _________________________________________ THEY SAY THIS STORM IS WORSE THAN KATRINA AND HARVEY!!!! ...NASA's Terra satellite captured this image of Hurricane Irma at 10:35 a.m. local time on September 6, 2017.NASA Earth Observatory Hurricane Irma has already left hundreds of thousands of residents of Puerto Rico without electricity hours before the worst of the storm is expected to hit. Nearly 300,000 people were already without power by Wednesday afternoon, The New York Times reported. About 4,000 were without water because the electricity was out. The Miami Herald reported that parts of the island could be without power for four to six months. At 4 p.m. on Wednesday the eye of the storm was still about 70 miles northeast of San Juan, but the island was already feeling the storm's tropical forces. The National Hurricane Center's forecast Wednesday afternoon predicted that the Category 5 storm would start pounding Puerto Rico within hours, passing by the island's northern coast. Just after 3 p.m. local time, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello reported about 2,800 people and 230 pets were already taking refuge in shelters after evacuating. Hurricane Irma Waves crash against the seawall as Hurricane Irma slammed across islands in the northern Caribbean on Wednesday, in Fajardo, Puerto Rico September 6, 2017.REUTERS/Alvin Baez Ricardo Ramos, director of the Puerto Rico's sole power company, PREPA, told local radio station NotiUno on Tuesday that some residents could have their power restored in as soon as a week, while for others it could take months. Part of the problem is the island's debt crisis and crumbling infrastructure. PREPA, a government-owned utility, defaulted on nearly $9 billion in debt in July, NPR reported. "The dangerousness of this event is like nothing we've ever seen," the Rossello said. "A lot of infrastructure won't be able to withstand this kind of force." He urged residents in the path of the storm to evacuate, and President Donald Trump declared a federal emergency in Puerto Rico to free up federal resources.

DO YOU HAVE ENDURANCE? ?????????????????? "He that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved."—(Matt. 24:13) This means to have the sense “stand one’s ground; persevere; remain steadfast,” and is thus translated ‘endure.’ (Mt 24:13) The noun hy·po·mo·ne? usually denotes courageous, steadfast, or patient “endurance” that does not lose hope in the face of obstacles, persecutions, trials, or temptations. ?????????????????? Why Needed. Among the things Christians may have to face are indifference on the part of others, reproach, misrepresentation, intense hostility, hatred by close family members, mistreatment, imprisonment, and even death. (Mt 5:10-12; 10:16-22; 24:9, 10,39; Mr 13:9, 12, 13; Re 13:10) ?????????????????? This calls for endurance. Without this essential quality, a person simply could not come into possession of eternal life. (Ro 2:7;Heb 10:36; Re 14:12) This is because what counts is the finish, not how well a person may have started in the course of Christian discipleship. As Jesus Christ expressed it: “He that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved.” (Mt 24:13) “By endurance on your part you will acquire your souls.”—Lu 21:19. ?????????????????? Persons who quickly accept “the word of God,” but only on a surface level, lack endurance. They soon give up under tribulation or persecution, losing out on God’s approval and blessing. But those who develop deep appreciation for “the word of God” endure steadfastly. They “bear fruit with endurance,” faithfully continuing to proclaim God’s message despite hardship, suffering, and discouragement.—Lu 8:11, 13, 15. ?????????????????? Endurance in the Christian way is not dependent on personal strength. It is the Most High who, by means of his spirit and the comfort from the Scriptures, sustains and fortifies his servants. He “supplies endurance” to those who rely fully on him, and so Christians rightly pray for his help, including the wisdom needed to deal with a particular trial. (Ro 15:4, 5; Jas 1:5) ?????????????????? Jehovah will never permit anyone’s being submitted to a trial that would be impossible for him to bear. If a person looks to Him for aid, not losing faith but trusting completely in Jehovah, the Almighty will make the way out so that he is able to endure.—1Co 10:13; 2Co 4:9. ?????????????????? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200001360?q=matt+24%3A13&p=par#h=4

@Queen Esther Pray for God's Kingdom! The "only hope" for mankind. Two more on their way! Soon it will be accomplished, deliverance from Satan's world and those hordes in his tail. ????????

'UNPRECEDENTED' DESTRUCTION: Aerial footage shows damage and destruction on the island of Saint Maarten after Hurricane Irma, a powerful Category 5 storm, swept through the country in the Caribbean. Complete coverage of Irma as it moves toward Florida on #worldnewstonight with @davidmuirabc anchoring from Miami. #hurricaneirma #Irma #hurricane #abc #storm #weather #Caribbean #island #stmartin #florida Tap Link for Video MP4 ___ IMG_5498.MP4

DINAMARCA, NUESTRO HERMANO CON 97 AÑOS Denmark, our Brother, 97 years – He's found the "Joy of Jehovah!" Thank you ?

Do You Imitate God's Loving-Kindness? ????? "From far away Jehovah appeared to me and said: “I have loved you with an everlasting love.That is why I have drawn you to me with loyal love." – (Jeremiah 31:3) ????? Loving-kindness is a precious quality of Jehovah God in which he delights, and it is manifest in all his dealings with his servants. (Ps 36:7; 62:12; Mic 7:18) Were this not the case, they would have perished long ago. (La 3:22) Thus, Moses could plead in behalf of rebellious Israel, both on the basis of JehovahÂ’s great name and because He is a God of loving-kindness.—Nu 14:13-19. ????? The Scriptures show that JehovahÂ’s loving-kindness, or loyal love, is displayed in a variety of ways and under different circumstances—in acts of deliverance and preservation (Ps 6:4;119:88, 159), as a safeguard and protection (Ps 40:11; 61:7; 143:12), and as a factor bringing relief from troubles (Ru 1:8; 2:20; Ps 31:16, 21). Because of it one may be recovered from sin (Ps 25:7), sustained, and upheld. (Ps 94:18;117:2) By it GodÂ’s chosen ones are assisted. (Ps 44:26) GodÂ’s loving-kindness was magnified in the cases of Lot (Ge 19:18-22), Abraham (Mic 7:20), and Joseph (Ge 39:21). It was also acknowledged in the choice of a wife for Isaac.—Ge 24:12-14, 27. ????? Loving-Kindness of Man. From the above it is apparent that those wishing to have GodÂ’s approval must “love kindness” and “carry on with one another loving-kindness and mercies.” (Mic 6:8;Zec 7:9) As the proverb says, “The desirable thing in earthling man is his loving-kindness,” and it brings him rich rewards. (Pr 19:22; 11:17) ????? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200002612?q=jere+31%3A3&p=par

Prophecies Now Starting to Be Fulfilled - What Will Happen Next? ???????? “The wolf will actually reside for a while with the male lamb, and with the kid the leopard itself will lie down, and the calf and the maned young lion and the well-fed animal all together; and a mere little boy will be leader over them." (Isa.11:6-9) – ???????? Jehovah assured the exiles that they and their livestock would be safe. The lion would eat straw in the sense that it would not devour the JewsÂ’ cattle. Faithful ones would have nothing to fear from such predators. Jehovah promised that his people would be safe in the restored land of Judah, even in the wilderness and in the forests.—Ezek. 34:25. ???????? Jehovah promised that his obedient people would find the rains reliable; as a result, the ground would produce “abundant and rich” bread. (Isa. 30:23) As to shelter and meaningful work, Jehovah promised concerning his people: “They will build houses and live in them, and they will plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. They will not build for someone else to inhabit, nor will they plant for others to eat.” (Isa. 65:21, 22) ???????? Jehovah promised that his obedient people would find the rains reliable; as a result, the ground would produce “abundant and rich” bread. (Isa. 30:23) As to shelter and meaningful work, Jehovah promised concerning his people: “They will build houses and live in them, and they will plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. They will not build for someone else to inhabit, nor will they plant for others to eat.” (Isa. 65:21, 22) ???????? Security. At long last, the heartwarming word picture painted at Isaiah 11:6-9 will see a complete fulfillment even in a literal sense. Men, women, and children will be safe and secure wherever they go on earth. No creature, whether human or animal, will pose any threat. Imagine a time when you will see this entire planet as your home, where you can swim in the rivers, lakes, and seas; traverse the mountain ranges; and roam the grasslands in complete safety. And when night falls, you will not worry. The words of Ezekiel 34:25 will come true, so that it will even be possible for GodÂ’s people to “dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the forests.” ???????? We know that GodÂ’s Kingdom will come. We know that JehovahÂ’s every word of promise will come true. Why? Because GODÂ’S KINGDOM RULES! The question for each of us to ask is, ‘Does the Kingdom rule me?Â’ Let us do all we can to live as loyal subjects of that Kingdom now, so that we may benefit from its perfect, just rule forever! ???????? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102014264?q=isa+11%3A6-9&p=par#h=15

China A Chinese newspaper reports that government officials have visited an anti-Cult Center to check that they are doing their job in the city of Wuhu. If you look on the map, this city is inside Chinese territory. It is curious that the newspaper openly says: " today Jehovah's witnesses are an active heresy in the district district. The local church takes precautions against heresy." This evidence that there are our assets inside China. http://chinachristiandaily.com/2017-09-07/society/local-officials-visit-anti-cult-base-_5737.html

Children Love ❤️ Jehovah! ??? Let them Sing Out Loud! Video tap Link ___Enjoy! MP4 IMG_5481.MP4

@JW Insider Thank you for your support. We are all praying for relief soon! We never know what's next? May God's Kingdom solve all our woes. Let us know if you hear any information and we will share with our worldwide family. ??????

Don't Give Up the Scene of this world ? is changing. – Hurricane Irma destroyed almost an entire Caribbean island. Located in the Eastern Caribbean, Barbuda was the first island to experience landfall by Irma. Irma arrived at Puerto Rico on Wednesday and is expected to hit Florida on Sept 9th. via @nowthisnews MP4 Link Tap to Open Video ___ IMG_5471.MP4

Many prayers they now say this Hurricane Irma is worse than Katrina and Harvey!! ???

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/awake-no5-2017-october/

Got your go bags ready? ????????????...#Repost @abcworldnewstonight MONSTER STORM: @davidmuirabc leads our coverage of Hurricane Irma as the Category 5 storm lashes islands in the Caribbean and takes aim at Florida. #hurricane #hurricaneirma #irma #storm #weather #wx #carribean #florida #worldnewstonight Watch Video Link ____WOW!

Wow! Monster Storms! Who has authority in the earth? Remember Satan was cast down to the earth! Woe for the earth ? and the sea ?, he knows he has a short period of time! CATEGORY 5: @noaa satellite imagery captures the eye of Hurricane Irma, with sustained winds now at 180 mph and gusts up to 220 mph as the monster storm sweeps toward the Caribbean with a state of emergency already declared in Florida. Complete coverage tonight. @davidmuirabc @ginger_zee @perezreports @linziejanis #hurricane #hurricaneirma #irma #category5 #storm #weather #wx #carribean #puertorico #florida #abcnews #worldnewstonight Watch this Video! Link ____ Â Â

NASA's Terra satellite captured this image of Hurricane Irma at 10:35 a.m. local time on September 6, 2017.NASA Earth Observatory Hurricane Irma has already left hundreds of thousands of residents of Puerto Rico without electricity hours before the worst of the storm is expected to hit. Nearly 300,000 people were already without power by Wednesday afternoon, The New York Times reported. About 4,000 were without water because the electricity was out. The Miami Herald reported that parts of the island could be without power for four to six months. At 4 p.m. on Wednesday the eye of the storm was still about 70 miles northeast of San Juan, but the island was already feeling the storm's tropical forces. The National Hurricane Center's forecast Wednesday afternoon predicted that the Category 5 storm would start pounding Puerto Rico within hours, passing by the island's northern coast. Just after 3 p.m. local time, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello reported about 2,800 people and 230 pets were already taking refuge in shelters after evacuating. Hurricane Irma Waves crash against the seawall as Hurricane Irma slammed across islands in the northern Caribbean on Wednesday, in Fajardo, Puerto Rico September 6, 2017.REUTERS/Alvin Baez Ricardo Ramos, director of the Puerto Rico's sole power company, PREPA, told local radio station NotiUno on Tuesday that some residents could have their power restored in as soon as a week, while for others it could take months. Part of the problem is the island's debt crisis and crumbling infrastructure. PREPA, a government-owned utility, defaulted on nearly $9 billion in debt in July, NPR reported. "The dangerousness of this event is like nothing we've ever seen," the Rossello said. "A lot of infrastructure won't be able to withstand this kind of force." He urged residents in the path of the storm to evacuate, and President Donald Trump declared a federal emergency in Puerto Rico to free up federal resources.

This notated image from the NOAA-NASA Suomi NPP satellite shows cloud-top temperatures inside Hurricane Irma, and other features of the storm. (The scale is in degrees minus Celsius, so the temperatures get warmer toward the center of the storm.) The image was captured on Sept. 4 at 12:32 a.m. EDT (0432 GMT), while the storm was still a Category 3 hurricane. Credit: NOAA/NASA Hurricane Irma, a "potentially catastrophic" Category 5 storm churning in the Atlantic, is gathering steam as it makes its way toward the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and parts of Florida. And this monster storm could pack a punch; Hurricane Irma's maximum sustained winds have been recorded at a mind-boggling 185 miles per hour (296 km/h). To help you stay on top of the storm's development, Live Science has compiled everything you need to know, from tips on hurricane preparedness to Irma's latest forecasts to the science behind nature's biggest hurricanes. https://www.livescience.com/60320-hurricane-irma-news.html?_ga=2.66724782.1247623192.1504739091-1043769205.1504739090

Hurricane Harvey A brother comments My wife was asked to make a salad for 80 people and take her to the Denton Assembly Hall yesterday. Another sister and we left home made enchiladas, cookies and salad enough for at least 80. Pretty sure there were more than 80 jealous volunteers. There was a line of trucks and trailers falling from the provisions of the halls of the kingdom. Inside them were stacking supplies on pallets and wrapping in preparation to load 18 wheels to take Houston. They preferred monetary donations, but also made it known that supplies could be purchased specified by the case if they preferred them. Individuals were encouraged to take donations and / or supplies to their local kingdom hall to keep traffic in the assembly hall, and then a designated brother / brothers took him to the assembly hall. Very tidy. Another brother comments After today's meeting, they read a letter from our circuit supervisor. They said the delivery place in Houston is full of supplies and there are 6 trucks there waiting for space to unload. They have a surplus in the Denton meeting room, so they put the relief effort in the Denton lounge at the break. They said they had already downloaded more than 250.000 bottles of water and other necessary supplies. After the meeting, they made a slideshow of photos of the relief effort in the event hall.

Beautiful Creatures of Jehovah! Let's praise His Name forever! ????? The music was just so good onboard this morning that this Mola Mola had to come check it out ? Credit: @montereyabalone The beluga whale or white whale is an Arctic and sub-Arctic cetacean. It is one of two members of the family Monodontidae, along with the narwhal, and the only member of the genus Delphinapterus.Wikipedia Conservation status: Near Threatened Encyclopedia of Life Mass: 3,000 lbs (Adult) Encyclopedia of Life Did you know: A beluga can nod and turn its head because, unlike most whales, its seven neck vertebrae are not fused. vanaqua.org BELUGA WHALE BASIC FACTS ABOUT BELUGA WHALES Adult beluga whales are easily distinguished by their often pure white skin, their small size and their lack of dorsal fin. Belugas have a broad, rounded head and a large forehead. They are well adapted to their arctic and sub-arctic environment, with a five-inch-thick layer of blubber and a tough dorsal ridge that helps them travel through sea ice waters. Belugas are toothed whales. They have broad, paddle-like flippers and notched tails. Because beluga whales eat marine species that are most common each season, they play an important role in the health of the overall ecosystem. They are also one of AlaskaÂ’s most well-known marine animals and a key draw for tourists and residents traveling along the coastal areas in the state. Diet Beluga whales are opportunistic feeders. They feed on salmon, eulachon, tomcod, smelt, char, rainbow sole, whitefish, saffron and arctic cod, herring, shrimp, mussels, octopus, crabs, clams, mussels, snails and sandworms. Population Though difficult to obtain an accurate count because they are so widely distributed, it is estimated that beluga whales number in the hundreds of thousands. Did You Know? Unlike other cetaceans, belugas can move their head up, down, and side-to-side because their cervical vertebrae are not fused. This adaptation is believed to help them maneuver and catch prey in silt-laden or ice-covered areas. Habitat & Range Beluga whales are distributed throughout seasonally ice-covered arctic and subarctic waters. They inhabit waters off the shores of Russia, Greenland, Canada, Norway and the United States (Alaska).  Genetic research has determined that there are five beluga whales stocks within U.S. waters: Cook Inlet, Bristol Bay, eastern Bering Sea, eastern Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea. Behavior Belugas forage for food in the water column and on the seabed. This typically takes place at depths of up to 1,000 feet, but they can dive to at least twice this depth. Belugas congregate and travel in groups from 2-3 to as many as several hundred. Some are migratory within their limited range, while others remain residents of a particular area. They are found close to shore or in the open sea. During the summer months in some areas they gather in the estuaries of rivers to feed and calve. Belugas use sound to find their prey. They also use sound to communicate and navigate by producing a variety of clicks, chirps and whistles. Reproduction Young belugas are usually dark grey in color. The grey steadily lightens as they grow up - reaching their permanent color by the age of seven for females and nine for males. Calves nurse for about two years. Mating Season: Late winter - early spring Gestation: 15 months Number of offspring: 1 calf http://www.defenders.org/beluga-whale/basic-facts Enjoy the Video of these Great Creatures Tap on Link  Â