A Russian scientist braved sub-zero temperatures and threw her clothes - and caution - to the wind to tame two beluga whales in a controversial experiment.

London's Daily Mail reported that Natalia Avseenko, 36, was persuaded to strip because experts believe the whales don't like being touched by artificial materials such as diving suits.

Avseenko, a skilled diver, took to the -1C water in the Murmansk Oblast region, Russia, on the White Sea's shore near the Arctic Circle branch of the Utrish Dophinarium.

There is an enclosure in the sea to stop whales and dolphins leaving. This is where instructors tame them before they are transported to dolphinariums around the world, a practice many animal conservationists consider cruel.

Avseenko used yoga techniques to hold her breath and stay under water for 10 minutes and 40 seconds. There are only about 100000 belugas left in the wild.