Captive Beluga Whales in the U.S. & Canada

It looks as though Mystic will be successful in their import of 1.4 Belugas from Canada!

Beluga whales from Canada headed to Mystic Aquarium

I'm interested in what happens when the current permit expires? Will the aquarium be free to breed these animals in a larger mixed social group with the other three existing whales? The aquarium will soon have 2.6 animals, which surely is much more conducive to breeding success.

~Thylo
 
Updated US Beluga Population is 38 animals with at least one known pregnancy at SWT:

SWT (5.5)
Crissy F (est 1988)
Martha F (est 1988)
Naluark M (est 1986)
Luna F (b 07/24/2000)
Samson M (b 07/09/2013)
Kenai M (b 08/11/2016)
Innik M (b 08/17/2017)
Tyonek M (b 2017)
Atla F (b 06/23/2010)
Pearl F (b 06/23/2010)

SWF (2.0)
Oliver M (b 06/23/2007)
Grayson M (b 06/26/2007)

SWC (2.1)
Ferdinand M (est 1970)
Allua F (est 1985)
Klondike M (b 07/13/2002)

Mystic (2.6)
Natasha F (est 1980)
Kelalukak F (est 1981)
Juno M (b 07/06/2002)
Jetta F (b 07/17/2014)
Havana F (b 07/23/2015)
Kharabali F (b 07/20/2014)
Havok M (b 08/10/2015)
Sahara F (b 07/23/2014)

Georgia (2.4)
Imaq M (est 1988)
Whisper F (b 07/25/1999)
Maple F (b 07/02/2005)
Qinu F (b 07/31/2008)
Nunavik M (b 12/14/2009)
Shila F (b 05/17/2020)

Shedd (4.5)
Mauyak F (est 1981)
Beethoven M (b 08/08/1992)
Naya F (est 1989)
Kayavak F (b 08/03/1999)
Aurek M (b 06/27/2003)
Bella F (b 07/17/2006)
Kimalu F (b 08/27/2012)
Annik M (b 07/03/2019)
Atlas M (b 08/21/2020)

Total US Population
17.21
 
So most of those facilities look pretty full. Given that both Wild Arctic displays are small, and the others have larger populations. How much capacity is there even to expand the population within existing facilities?
 
nczoofan said:
So most of those facilities look pretty full. Given that both Wild Arctic displays are small, and the others have larger populations. How much capacity is there even to expand the population within existing facilities?
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None of the exhibits are currently at "capacity" as defined by their permits - but some have more room than others for additional animals, I would concur. There were more exhibits in the US historically, but limited animals and to improve breeding, animals were grouped in larger pods.

Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma held belugas, I am unsure what the status is of their prior exhibit in terms of being adapted for sea lions and if it could again house belugas. The New York Aquarium also held belugas, I am not sure what is now in that exhibit after much change has occurred there due to the storm damage and upgrades.

If there were to become a much more sustainable population of belugas in the US, we could see interest in reopening or opening new exhibits - I would love to see an exhibit with outdoor winter options in the northern US, Minnesota Zoo had at one time. I would love to see Omaha open an exhibit, but that is a selfish dream I am sure. :)
 
MidwestFan said:
None of the exhibits are currently at "capacity" as defined by their permits - but some have more room than others for additional animals, I would concur. There were more exhibits in the US historically, but limited animals and to improve breeding, animals were grouped in larger pods.

Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma held belugas, I am unsure what the status is of their prior exhibit in terms of being adapted for sea lions and if it could again house belugas. The New York Aquarium also held belugas, I am not sure what is now in that exhibit after much change has occurred there due to the storm damage and upgrades.

If there were to become a much more sustainable population of belugas in the US, we could see interest in reopening or opening new exhibits - I would love to see an exhibit with outdoor winter options in the northern US, Minnesota Zoo had at one time. I would love to see Omaha open an exhibit, but that is a selfish dream I am sure. :)
Click to expand...
Mystic has an outdoor exhibit that allows the belugas to be outside during winter- I agree this is the ideal setup for belugas when possible and would like more facilities to establish outdoor beluga habitats.
 
MidwestFan said:
None of the exhibits are currently at "capacity" as defined by their permits - but some have more room than others for additional animals, I would concur. There were more exhibits in the US historically, but limited animals and to improve breeding, animals were grouped in larger pods.

Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma held belugas, I am unsure what the status is of their prior exhibit in terms of being adapted for sea lions and if it could again house belugas. The New York Aquarium also held belugas, I am not sure what is now in that exhibit after much change has occurred there due to the storm damage and upgrades.

If there were to become a much more sustainable population of belugas in the US, we could see interest in reopening or opening new exhibits - I would love to see an exhibit with outdoor winter options in the northern US, Minnesota Zoo had at one time. I would love to see Omaha open an exhibit, but that is a selfish dream I am sure. :)
Click to expand...

I'm not entirely sure where the aquarium used to house cetaceans but none of the current remaining outdoor pools are appropriate for Beluga.

~Thylo
 
ThylacineAlive said:
I'm not entirely sure where the aquarium used to house cetaceans but none of the current remaining outdoor pools are appropriate for Beluga.

~Thylo
Click to expand...


They were housed in the three circular tanks between the amphitheater and the main exhibit building. Since then home to a rotating cast of turtles and sharks and so on.
 
nczoofan said:
They were housed in the three circular tanks between the amphitheater and the main exhibit building. Since then home to a rotating cast of turtles and sharks and so on.
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Ouch, would not want whales kept in those nowadays! Thanks for the info. :)

~Thylo
 
ThylacineAlive said:
Ouch, would not want whales kept in those nowadays! Thanks for the info. :)

~Thylo
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I mean they are fairly deep tanks but they are just so empty. Not the largest, but there are 2 off display pools. Maybe 5000 sq feet of floorspace. Fine for their time but not great under todays standards and definitely not a way WCS would display one of there key conservation species. Heres a pic of a beluga in there.

439.jpg
 
Phil Demers is currently claiming that Marineland Canada is down to 41 whales already somehow. This article claims there are 47 following the transfers to Mystic. Either way there have been some deaths at Marineland this year, so I guess we'll see once it re-opens.
 
Both of the known pregnant females (Qinu and Luna) have given birth...

On Friday, they announced that Qinu gave birth sometime within the last couple days but she needed manual assitance in delivering the calf and unfortunately the calf did not make it. It's so unfortunate that both of Qinu's calves did not survive the birthing process.

In happier news, SWSA announced today that Luna gave birth to a healthy calf early this morning! :)
 
That is definitely some sad and great news for the beluga population. I’m no expert on beluga’s in Captivity but does none know if Marineland is actively breeding belugas and how much space do they have for the pod and are there multiple pods or one giant pod that lives together?
 
Very sad that Qinu was not successful in birthing the calf. I believe this is similar situation to her first calf as well. Could be an anatomical issue limiting a calf from passing through. I suspect she will be a non-breeding animal for her safety at this point.
 
Akula said:
That is definitely some sad and great news for the beluga population. I’m no expert on beluga’s in Captivity but does none know if Marineland is actively breeding belugas and how much space do they have for the pod and are there multiple pods or one giant pod that lives together?
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Marineland can no longer breed due to a ban on breeding cetaceans in captivity in Canada. However that said, they have a number of different social groups. One very large group consisting of males and a few immature females, two separate groups of cows and young calves, a handful of animals in their show stadium, Plus they have a few other pools that house a rotation of different animals, depending on who needs to be separated at the time.
 
That is a shame that they can no longer breed with such a large population, so are they planning on doing a release program then? Just curious since I know people have been pushing to release Kiska the killer whale, I wonder if that will have an affect on the belugas situation?
 
Akula said:
That is a shame that they can no longer breed with such a large population, so are they planning on doing a release program then? Just curious since I know people have been pushing to release Kiska the killer whale, I wonder if that will have an affect on the belugas situation?
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No. Marinelands bread and butter is the belugas to bring people in. Even with the ban in effect, given the current population and age demographic, they will likely still have whales for another 20 to 30 years or so, if not slightly longer. It is *not* in their best interest to get rid of any, especially considering they seem to lose 2-3 animals every year. That number has always been well offset by their breeding, but since there isn't breeding anymore, that number will start to add up quickly a few years from now.

As for Kiska, the notion to release her is ridiculous. The whale essentially has Alzheimer's and her teeth are worn down flat to the gum line. Just moving her to another facility would be stressful enough to quite possibly kill her in the process, and trying to boot the poor thing out into the world would be a death sentence. Don't get me wrong, I thing certain captive orcas (especially some of the family groups) would have the potential to do excellent if released, but Kiska just isn't one of those animals anymore.
 
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