Naked female scientist tames Arctic whales

Sometimes, all a scientist needs to wear to work is just a positive attitude —and a little yoga training. This was the case of Russian scientist Natalia Avseenko, 36, who agreed to strip naked and brave sub-zero temperatures to tame two Beluga whales in the Arctic, according to the UK Daily Mail.

Russian scientist Natalia Avseenko tries to tame a beluga whale in ice-cold Arctic waters. Belugas are supposedly averse to being touched with artificial materials such as those used in diving suits. Photo: Viktor Lyagushkin / KNS News

Avseenko, a skilled diver, defied -1.5 degree (Celsius) water temperatures to swim naked with the Beluga whales, because it is believed that the creatures are averse to being touched with artificial materials such as those used in diving suits. While an average human could die if left in sub-zero temperature sea water for five minutes, Avseenko used yoga meditation techniques to hold her breath to stay under water for up to 10 minutes and 40 seconds. The taming happened in the Murmansk Oblast region far northwest of Russia, at the shore of the White Sea near the Arctic Circle branch of the Utrish Dolphinarium. While human instructors tame the whales before transporting them to dolphiariums, experts thought there would be a greater chance of striking a rapport with them without the barrier of clothes. Belugas are famous for the human-like expressions their faces can convey, thanks to a more flexible bone structure. However, experts believe the Belugas do not like to be touched by artificial materials such as diving suits. — TJD, GMA News