Captive Beluga Whales in the U.S. & Canada

J-K said:
"A review of the number of captive belugas, the captive beluga infant mortality rates, and the death rates for adult captive belugas, along with the Aquarium’s own predictions, leads to the conclusion
that beluga whales will cease to be displayed in United States aquariums and facilities soon, likely by 2050." - source

What would US facilities even do to prevent this? I know the Marine Mammal Protection Act is still very strict against importing sperm or extracting sperm from wild or beached belugas... Unless Marineland Canada is suddenly able to dump its stock to the US (which is still very difficult due to the MMPA's restriction's on importing cetaceans), are captive Belugas destined to just go extinct in the US?

I know it's technically possible to extract reproductive genetic material from wild cetaceans, but I can't imagine the legal/regulatory hurdle that would take...
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I’ll repost my comment here, since it’s dealing with the North American population as a whole. Discussion is probably also better suited for this thread too.

This study was all the way back in 2013, so about 12 years ago.
I'll also add that female belugas can have calves well into their mid 30s;
  • Mauyak had Annik when she was 36
  • Naya had Opus just last year at 35
  • Gemini had Calypso when she was 36
  • Crissy had Innik when she was 32
  • Xena had Artemis* when she was 34
Those are just a few examples off the top of my head. If anyone has any other examples of “late moms” feel free to contribute.
There’s been a lot that has changed as well since then, including births and losses.
 
Aelita said:
I’ll repost my comment here, since it’s dealing with the North American population as a whole. Discussion is probably also better suited for this thread too.

This study was all the way back in 2013, so about 12 years ago.
I'll also add that female belugas can have calves well into their mid 30s;
  • Mauyak had Annik when she was 36
  • Naya had Opus just last year at 35
  • Gemini had Calypso when she was 36
  • Crissy had Innik when she was 32
  • Xena had Artemis* when she was 34
Those are just a few examples off the top of my head. If anyone has any other examples of “late moms” feel free to contribute.
There’s been a lot that has changed as well since then, including births and losses.
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However, it still doesn't change the fact that the population desperately needs outside DNA for genetic diversity. Captive breeding programs with this pre-established population can only delay the inevitable.

Will they be able to get extract/import reproductive gametes from an outside population with less scrutiny from NOAA? That seems like the only hope for these facilities (for better or worse).

I'm just unsure on what the future holds for this population in a couple of decades. Is there a chance they'll somehow become sustainable?

I guess I'm just confused on why these facilities aren't trying to rapidly import/extract gametes from strandings or international captive populations (whether you think it's a good or immoral choice) based on this industry's self-interest. Are the regulatory hurdles too high even for gametes? Or are these facilities just quietly stocking up on genetic material in the dark?
 
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J-K said:
However, it still doesn't change the fact that the population desperately needs outside DNA for genetic diversity. Captive breeding programs with this pre-established population can only delay the inevitable.

Will they be able to get extract/import reproductive gametes from an outside population with less scrutiny from NOAA? That seems like the only hope for these facilities (for better or worse).

I'm just unsure on what the future holds for this population in a couple of decades. Is there a chance they'll somehow become sustainable?

I guess I'm just confused on why these facilities aren't trying to rapidly import/extract gametes from strandings or international captive populations (whether you think it's a good or immoral choice) based on this industry's self-interest. Are the regulatory hurdles too high even for gametes? Or are these facilities just quietly stocking up on genetic material in the dark?
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The MMPA still has extensive requirements covering the "take" of marine mammals - including animal parts (tissue samples included). There are further restrictions under what is considered a Level A or B Harassment for collecting animal tissues. Researchers would have to prove that their work would not result in the taking of marine mammals - a heavier lift for a procedure as invasive as what you're proposing.

So you not only have to apply for a permit to conduct your research, you'd have to separately apply to import any gametes you've collected for AI under that research permit. It's a very lengthy process that isn't worth the time.

Even importing animals tissues from captive populations requires the proper permitting and burden of proof by the submitter to a litany of requirements. Ultimately, AI is expensive with a high failure rate.

That's why most Aquarium's focus on population research - it's cheaper to run, easier to get the permits approved, and adds a nice conservation message.
 
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NAIB Volunteer said:
The MMPA still has extensive requirements covering the "take" of marine mammals - including animal parts (tissue samples included). There are further restrictions under what is considered a Level A or B Harassment for collecting animal tissues. Researchers would have to prove that their work would not result in the taking of marine mammals - a heavier lift for a procedure as invasive as what you're proposing.

So you not only have to apply for a permit to conduct your research, you'd have to separately apply to import any gametes you've collected for AI under that research permit. It's a very lengthy process that isn't worth the time.

Even importing animals tissues from captive populations requires the proper permitting and burden of proof by the submitter to a litany of requirements. Ultimately, AI is expensive with a high failure rate.

That's why most Aquarium's focus on population research - it's cheaper to run, easier to get the permits approved, and adds a nice conservation message.
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"That's why most Aquarium's focus on population research - it's cheaper to run, easier to get the permits approved, and adds a nice conservation message."

Can you elaborate on what you mean by population research? Are there any examples of it allowing aquariums to import live animals or reproductive tissue from captive or wild cetacean populations for the purpose of breeding?
 
DelacoursLangur said:
Is there the spare capacity in the US to potentially bring in a portion of these?
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There is some capacity in the US for sure, not sure if limited current holders could take in 30 whales amongst them. There are some former holders that could perhaps take some, Minnesota Zoo for instance, but many of the exhibits have been repurposed. Minnesota Zoo former beluga exhibit is now a theater, however their former dolphin exhibit that currently houses sea lions and a single monk seal could house belugas.
However, it does not appear that any import permits to the US have been filed in the US. I would say it is highly unlikely we will see any of the Marineland belugas (or dolphins) moving to any US facility. There are emergency import rules, but I find that would be even more unlikely.
Disappointing for a population that would benefit from the import.
 
ThylacineAlive said:
It seems like any whales imported from Marineland in the recent past have been done under non-breeding permits only anyway, so it's not as though these whales would be likely to contribute to the breeding pool sadly.

~Thylo
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They've also died relatively quickly, which has only invited bad PR upon the receiving facilities.

Can't say that I blame US Beluga holders for not lining up to offer Marineland's Beluga new homes.
 
Wisp O' Mist said:
They've also died relatively quickly, which has only invited bad PR upon the receiving facilities.

Can't say that I blame US Beluga holders for not lining up to offer Marineland's Beluga new homes.
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While there has been bad PR, that hasn’t negated Mystic from collaborating with them, admittedly.

According to some new documents, Sahara and Jetta’s permit got extended by a year, and includes a new study looking at lysosomal storage disease. It mentions that Mystic is due to import samples from ML whales, so I can potentially see the captive born belugas be brought to the US for easier access to them.
Permit to Import 5 Beluga Whales for Scientific Research (File No. 22629, Mystic Aquarium)
 
Aelita said:
While there has been bad PR, that hasn’t negated Mystic from collaborating with them, admittedly.

According to some new documents, Sahara and Jetta’s permit got extended by a year, and includes a new study looking at lysosomal storage disease. It mentions that Mystic is due to import samples from ML whales, so I can potentially see the captive born belugas be brought to the US for easier access to them.
Permit to Import 5 Beluga Whales for Scientific Research (File No. 22629, Mystic Aquarium)
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There is some speculation what will be the potential for the animals to enter into breeding recommendations once the research permit expires. Also, with the current status of NMFS and NOAA, potential changes to the MMPA with the current administration, there are many unknowns for sure.
 
It truly baffles me why US government agencies care whether imported animals are allowed to breed or not. So long as wild animals aren't being caught for that purpose, I can see no consequences of allowing it. To the contrary, allowing continental zoos to continue to exhibit Polar Bears and Belugas serves to raise awareness, funding, and research accessibility for species native to a corner of the country very few ever get to visit.

These 30 whales have reproductive potential, and the high fatality rate suggests time is of the essence to get them out of Marineland. Shipping them off to China is not only more risky, but these facilities are also far less experienced than Mystic for example.

That said, government moves slow and this is a peripheral issue, and it totally makes sense why AZA aquariums don't want to take the PR hit of importing potentially sick whales.

That said, is someone could grow a backbone and make it happen... :cool:
 
DelacoursLangur said:
That said, government moves slow and this is a peripheral issue, and it totally makes sense why AZA aquariums don't want to take the PR hit of importing potentially sick whales.

That said, is someone could grow a backbone and make it happen... :cool:
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They did - and subsequently took backlash when the whales died for reasons that weren't the fault of the importing aquariums. Given the overall success rate of Marineland Beluga surviving after import, I really can't blame places for not wanting to go to the effort.
 
Great Argus said:
They did - and subsequently took backlash when the whales died for reasons that weren't the fault of the importing aquariums. Given the overall success rate of Marineland Beluga surviving after import, I really can't blame places for not wanting to go to the effort.
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I know they did, that's why I am saying it totally makes sense that they are reluctant to try again with a 40% success rate the first time. It would take some serious backbone to do whats right and weather the naive public backlash...
 
DelacoursLangur said:
I know they did, that's why I am saying it totally makes sense that they are reluctant to try again with a 40% success rate the first time. It would take some serious backbone to do whats right and weather the naive public backlash...
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You seem to be implying the right move here would be for US facilities to take as many as possible - given Marineland's Beluga keep dying both at their own facility and exporteds is there really a right situation here? They'd be as likely to die at Mystic, Georgia, or SeaWorld as much as Chimelong, unfortunate as it is. The animals would be a ton of red tape to import with no guarantee if they'd make it. Much as I'd like to see more Belugas into the US, I really don't know it's much of a better answer than China here.
 
Great Argus said:
You seem to be implying the right move here would be for US facilities to take as many as possible - given Marineland's Beluga keep dying both at their own facility and exporteds is there really a right situation here? They'd be as likely to die at Mystic, Georgia, or SeaWorld as much as Chimelong, unfortunate as it is. The animals would be a ton of red tape to import with no guarantee if they'd make it. Much as I'd like to see more Belugas into the US, I really don't know it's much of a better answer than China here.
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Are you really confident saying that they are as likely to die at Chimelong as those other facilities? Admittedly I am not well versed on the levels of medical care available at US vs Chinese facilities. Its perhaps possible that they are equivalent. That said, the quality of care given at AZA zoos is far higher than that of your average Chinese facility. That combined with Chimelong's willingness to purchase large quantities of wild caught individuals from Russia, strongly suggests to me that the welfare of the animals would be better served at a Mystic, Georgia, or even SeaWorld.

There is a near zero possibility of further imports of Beluga's to the US from anywhere But Marineland. If only a handful of the 30 remaining go on to contribute genetic variability to the population, that could make the difference in terms of long term sustainability. That combined with the higher level of care I expect from these facilities makes it the logical choice in terms of both animal welfare, and conservation potential (in terms of the funds raised and research conducted at US facilities). However, from a public relations perspective, I completely agree that this would be potentially highly damaging.
 
DelacoursLangur said:
Are you really confident saying that they are as likely to die at Chimelong as those other facilities? Admittedly I am not well versed on the levels of medical care available at US vs Chinese facilities. Its perhaps possible that they are equivalent. That said, the quality of care given at AZA zoos is far higher than that of your average Chinese facility. That combined with Chimelong's willingness to purchase large quantities of wild caught individuals from Russia, strongly suggests to me that the welfare of the animals would be better served at a Mystic, Georgia, or even SeaWorld
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I'm not disagreeing they'd get better care and welfare here in the states. That point is certainly true that they'd be better off in that regard here. Even so, with Mystic's experience and top notch care they still lost two within a year and almost lost another. Neither death was Mystic's fault but those statistics out of 5 belugas is pretty gnarly. Marineland themselves keep losing Beluga left and right at times, to the point they got inspected. Clearly issues going on that any importing facility has to be ready to deal with. Do they have a higher chance of surviving in the US, that is somewhat unclear as it seems to rest on what issues the animals already have.

DelacoursLangur said:
If only a handful of the 30 remaining go on to contribute genetic variability to the population, that could make the difference in terms of long term sustainability. That combined with the higher level of care I expect from these facilities makes it the logical choice in terms of both animal welfare, and conservation potential (in terms of the funds raised and research conducted at US facilities).
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I agree, and the genetics would be incredibly helpful. But the recieving facilities would have to be very prepared for issues and pr deflection - something not easy to do with cetaceans. At the same odds as the previous import, importing 15 would mean preparing to lose 6 of them, which is a hard pr sell for best welfare. It's a difficult situation all around at this point.
 
Great Argus said:
I'm not disagreeing they'd get better care and welfare here in the states. That point is certainly true that they'd be better off in that regard here. Even so, with Mystic's experience and top notch care they still lost two within a year and almost lost another. Neither death was Mystic's fault but those statistics out of 5 belugas is pretty gnarly. Marineland themselves keep losing Beluga left and right at times, to the point they got inspected. Clearly issues going on that any importing facility has to be ready to deal with. Do they have a higher chance of surviving in the US, that is somewhat unclear as it seems to rest on what issues the animals already have.



I agree, and the genetics would be incredibly helpful. But the recieving facilities would have to be very prepared for issues and pr deflection - something not easy to do with cetaceans. At the same odds as the previous import, importing 15 would mean preparing to lose 6 of them, which is a hard pr sell for best welfare. It's a difficult situation all around at this point.
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The way to do it would be to spin it as an urgent rescue operation akin to what Dallas, Houston, and Sedgwick did with the elephant import from Swaziland back in 2016. Try and get out ahead of the expected bad news by highlighting the dire conditions and recent fatalities at Marineland in press statements from the get go.

That said, I highly highly doubt this has any chance of coming to fruition given the mixed results of the last import effort. Its just so frustrating to see this once in a lifetime opportunity go to waste. Whittling away in an abandoned cesspool at Marineland, or shipped off to a circus act in China...
 
Is Chimelong a circus act aquarium? I'm not overly familiar with Chinese facilities either, but I know the facility houses a large number of marine mammal species and from photos online the habitats don't look bad to me. Certainly not below the standard of many others. I understand they do shows with their animals and I have no idea on their husbandry, but on the surface they don't look like an awful facility.

~Thylo
 
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