Captive Beluga Whales in the U.S. & Canada

Aelita said:
From what I’ve known, Marineland has actually invested fairly recently (2022-2023) in their new veterinary lab, and admittedly they have the same network as other facilities in terms of information, research and vet care.

Mystic has also been guiding them since at the very least 2019/2020 in terms of research and care, plus the transfer was delayed several times for Havok’s treatment (per the Mystic documents)Permit Application to Import 5 Beluga Whales for Scientific Research (File No. 22629, Mystic Aquarium)

Even though passings are inevitable (and they have lost 2-3 animals per year historically which were always offset by births until 2019) , I for one would welcome an external inspection like what CMA has done.

Maybe bring in Mystic and SW full time too to assist the current animal care team; as Mystic’s research team is currently mobilized and assisting since 2022 per this report.
Beluga Whale Deaths at Mystic Aquarium Unpreventable, Report Says – NBC Connecticut

Plus knowing that Kodiak (who passed in April) was 28; I would assume that a fair amount of the older whales are 28-40 generation wise.
It’s also been said at both coves that Andre is the oldest; and I heard age range for Arctic is 4-40, making Gemini and Xena both 40 as well.
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That's good to hear about Mystic getting involved, I know money has been a issue so I'm very surprised about a new veterinary lab. I've heard from some former trainers that Marineland does not really follow other facilities care practices too well so who knows. I agree though at a third party inspection is definitely necessary and has been working great so far for facilities like CMA and Shedd. I know Ontario's Animal Welfare Services has cited Marineland for the water quality in the cetacean tanks so I'm just praying everything goes okay for those whales and dolphins.
 
Aelita said:
From what I’ve known, Marineland has actually invested fairly recently (2022-2023) in their new veterinary lab, and admittedly they have the same network as other facilities in terms of information, research and vet care.

Mystic has also been guiding them since at the very least 2019/2020 in terms of research and care, plus the transfer was delayed several times for Havok’s treatment (per the Mystic documents)Permit Application to Import 5 Beluga Whales for Scientific Research (File No. 22629, Mystic Aquarium)

Even though passings are inevitable (and they have lost 2-3 animals per year historically which were always offset by births until 2019) , I for one would welcome an external inspection like what CMA has done.

Maybe bring in Mystic and SW full time too to assist the current animal care team; as Mystic’s research team is currently mobilized and assisting since 2022 per this report.
Beluga Whale Deaths at Mystic Aquarium Unpreventable, Report Says – NBC Connecticut
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While those are all great strides, if the actual care and living conditions of the belugas doesn't change, it only means so much.
 
BlobfishBoy said:
While those are all great strides, if the actual care and living conditions of the belugas doesn't change, it only means so much.
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Agreed.
I’d only hope that there is more constructive feedback (versus outrage) in terms of finding solutions. External inspections, getting more assistance from other facilities, increasing resources and even welfare assessments (C-Well) are all solutions I’d bring up.

Has anyone heard anything about within US transfers & pregnancies? With Ferdinand passing I can see Klondike going to Georgia while SWSD could become an additional non-breeding group (Allua and Naya) or create space for another breeding group if SWT reaches capacity.
 
Aelita said:
Agreed.
I’d only hope that there is more constructive feedback (versus outrage) in terms of finding solutions. External inspections, getting more assistance from other facilities, increasing resources and even welfare assessments (C-Well) are all solutions I’d bring up.

Has anyone heard anything about within US transfers & pregnancies? With Ferdinand passing I can see Klondike going to Georgia while SWSD could become an additional non-breeding group (Allua and Naya) or create space for another breeding group if SWT reaches capacity.
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I was thinking about SWC, I can see Allua moving to SWT or Mystic and SWC becoming a bachelor facility like SWF with Samson, Kenai, Innik and Tyonek.

Klondike and Whisper (GA main breeder) didn't get along, they lived together at SWF, so I don't think they'll move him there.
 
b_g_19 said:
I was thinking about SWC, I can see Allua moving to SWT or Mystic and SWC becoming a bachelor facility like SWF with Samson, Kenai, Innik and Tyonek.
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I don't think Tyonek would be put in a bachelor facility since he's a rescue and has valuable genetics, unless they want to use AI every time.
 
https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/res...7WV3sJV6SxQIZPwuB54kQxDwZGGKrbBJNA_SFIeAteoYc

“On February 25, the Aquarium welcomed Nunavik (Noon-ah-vick) to Atlanta from SeaWorld Orlando as part of a decades-long collaboration with several other aquariums that care for beluga whales. Nunavik is settling in comfortably at Georgia Aquarium with female beluga whales Maple, Shila, Qinu, and Whisper and three harbor seals in the Aquarium’s arctic-themed Cold Water Quest gallery.“
 
Yazziel said:
https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/res...7WV3sJV6SxQIZPwuB54kQxDwZGGKrbBJNA_SFIeAteoYc

“On February 25, the Aquarium welcomed Nunavik (Noon-ah-vick) to Atlanta from SeaWorld Orlando as part of a decades-long collaboration with several other aquariums that care for beluga whales. Nunavik is settling in comfortably at Georgia Aquarium with female beluga whales Maple, Shila, Qinu, and Whisper and three harbor seals in the Aquarium’s arctic-themed Cold Water Quest gallery.“
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It was also mentioned in the SeaWorld SD thread, Oliver was moved there the same weekend.
So for now Wild Arctic SWO has no beluga residents.
 
Aelita said:
It was also mentioned in the SeaWorld SD thread, Oliver was moved there the same weekend.
So for now Wild Arctic SWO has no beluga residents.
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I wouldn’t be so certain there are no whales in Orlando, I’ll find out next week. Last I saw, beluga tours resume March 17.
 
MidwestFan said:
I wouldn’t be so certain there are no whales in Orlando, I’ll find out next week. Last I saw, beluga tours resume March 17.
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Beluga tours seem to be off the reservation system for the foreseeable future. Visited this week, no belugas on exhibit. Asked education team at Wild Artic, they were tight lipped for sure, said to just wait and watch social media for updates. I am surprised to say, I have to agree there are no beluga whales in Orlando right now.
 
Ontario’s Marineland to open without animals for first time in 63 years

Big news: Marineland Canada will be reopening this summer with no animal attractions including their belugas. Although not stated explicitly in this article, I think it's fair to say that many of them will end up in AZA aquariums such as the SeaWorld parks, Mystic, and Shedd.

Although the fresh blood could be good for the population, I know some of the belugas they've sent had underlying issues that contributed to their deaths.
 
BlobfishBoy said:
Ontario’s Marineland to open without animals for first time in 63 years

Big news: Marineland Canada will be reopening this summer with no animal attractions including their belugas. Although not stated explicitly in this article, I think it's fair to say that many of them will end up in AZA aquariums such as the SeaWorld parks, Mystic, and Shedd.

Although the fresh blood could be good for the population, I know some of the belugas they've sent had underlying issues that contributed to their deaths.
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Not entirely sure how reliable this is, and from what I know the land animals are much easier to rehome first, within Canada.
NOAA and CITES will be databases to watch for any permits especially regarding the cetaceans, and even then only those born at MLC would be the only ones allowed to come to the US.

Nevertheless I would love if more of the pod can join the AZA population and by extension the SSP :)
 
Aelita said:
Not entirely sure how reliable this is, and from what I know the land animals are much easier to rehome first, within Canada.
NOAA and CITES will be databases to watch for any permits especially regarding the cetaceans, and even then only those born at MLC would be the only ones allowed to come to the US.

Nevertheless I would love if more of the pod can join the AZA population and by extension the SSP :)
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Will be interesting to see how this plays out for sure. Asian aquariums will likely be very interested in acquiring any cetaceans they can from ML Canada.
If the facility is indeed closing (so many conflicting stories over time, but seems inevitable at some point), there could be exceptions for emergency import to US for even wild born animals, but would likely come with restrictions on breeding and display.
I do hope that all of the remaining whales and dolphins (and pinnipeds too) will make it to better facilities in the US and ultimately help sustain the population. But with the laws being proposed in Congress that would ban beluga breeding in the US, it is concerning how sustainable the population will be anyway.
 
MidwestFan said:
Will be interesting to see how this plays out for sure. Asian aquariums will likely be very interested in acquiring any cetaceans they can from ML Canada.
If the facility is indeed closing (so many conflicting stories over time, but seems inevitable at some point), there could be exceptions for emergency import to US for even wild born animals, but would likely come with restrictions on breeding and display.
I do hope that all of the remaining whales and dolphins (and pinnipeds too) will make it to better facilities in the US and ultimately help sustain the population. But with the laws being proposed in Congress that would ban beluga breeding in the US, it is concerning how sustainable the population will be anyway.
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Are these bills gaining any real steam? With the lack of huge public outcry against captive belugas, along with the popularity of all places that keep belugas, I have a hard time seeing such a bill becoming a law soon.
 
BlobfishBoy said:
Are these bills gaining any real steam? With the lack of huge public outcry against captive belugas, along with the popularity of all places that keep belugas, I have a hard time seeing such a bill becoming a law soon.
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I hope you are correct!
 
What about the Oceanografic Valencia ? If I am correct, they still only with a mother and her son.
 
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