By high summer, the female beluga whales are preparing to give birth.
到了盛夏时节，雌性白鲸已经准备分娩了。
The whales return to the same calving grounds in the Northwest Passage year after year, choosing bays that are sheltered from many strong currents.
白鲸们同往年一样回到位于西北航道上的繁殖地，选择不受强烈洋流影响的海湾。
As the warmth fill her mother's womb is exchanged for the chill of the Arctic Ocean, it's incredible a new born calf can withstand the thermal shock.
当它离开母亲温暖的子宫进入冰冷的北冰洋时，新生的幼崽能承受这剧烈的热度变化让人难以置信。
Instinct sends the calf straight to the surface to take a first breath. Her mother swims underneath to support her.
本能驱使幼崽径直探出水面进行第一次呼吸。它妈妈游在下面，支撑着它。
Calves stay with their mother until they're two years old and won't turn white for another five years.
幼崽两岁前会和妈妈呆在一起，而肤色要再过上五年才会变白。
During their first month, the new born calves cruise in their mother's slip-streams.
在出生后的第一个月里，幼崽始终漫游在妈妈身旁。
As July nears its end, the mothers and their calves are joined by huge numbers of belugas.
随着七月即将过去，大量白鲸加入到妈妈和孩子们的行列中来。
They are gathering in the wide shallow bays of the Northwest Passage for their annual molt.
它们聚集在西北航道的浅湾，来进行年度一次的蜕皮。
Twisting and turning on the rocky bottom of the bay, they rub off their old yellow skin.
它们在岩石密布的湾底部扭动身体，蜕去身上陈旧泛黄的皮肤。
Once finished, their skin is pristine and gleaming and worthy of their Russian name: "the white one".
完成后，它们的皮肤变得整洁光亮，这样才配的上它们的俄语名字：“白色之鲸”。
As the tide recedes, the belugas followed out into the bay, and into deeper water.
随着潮水退去，白鲸顺势进入海湾继而游入深水。
