Are belugas destined to go extinct in US facilities?

J

J-K

Active Member
5+ year member
"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...
 
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...
Click to expand...
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. There’s been a lot that has changed as well since then, including births and losses.
 
This topic is really interesting.

Here is the list of belugas in the US: Captive Beluga Whales in the U.S. & Canada

The era of cetaceans in captivity is coming to an end for many reasons: small populations, lack of breeding, antis, new laws, etc. In the USA all species of cetaceans, except for the bottlenose dolphins, are in danger of disappearing sooner or later. Belugas of course are not the exception even though they are the second largest cetacean population in USA. Aquariums are aware of that and that’s why they have been moving around whales so frequently. They also are trying to have larger groups just like in the wild in the three breeding facilities (Shedd, SW Texas and Georgia Aquarium) And Shedd even decided to breed Naya again, despite of being an old animal with a history of many unsuccessful calves. But she is wild born whale who recently had the most valuable calf with a male who is also not related to any other animal, so it was a worthy try.

However there are many problems that the aquariums are still facing:

- The population is too small. There are only 33 belugas, which includes many old and/or non-breeding females. Another problem is that almost all of the captive born animals are offspring of only three males: Nanuq, Imaq and Naluak, which is still alive and continue siring. So the gene pool is very limited, eventually inbreeding is going to happen. Introducing new animals won’t be easy, there are not many captive born belugas around the world (Kamogawa Sea World might be the best option) and we already know that the antis will not be happy about that. AI might be an option, but foreign animals must be trained for that and is not the most successful technique.

-Too many males. Most of the calves born in the last 10-20 years were males: that does not help to increase the number of animals; more females are needed.

-Most of the females (Atla, Pearl, Maple, Qinu) have yet to have their first pregnancy or their first successful calf, and they are not getting any younger. I do not know if any of them has a reproductive issue, but they should be start breeding as soon as possible.

- Space issue. Despite the fact that the population is small, there is no much space available at the six facilities. Of course, all of them can accommodate a few more animals (especially Mystic) but if breeding is boosted and/or more animals are introduced, more space will be needed.
 
domadordeolas said:
This topic is really interesting.

Here is the list of belugas in the US: Captive Beluga Whales in the U.S. & Canada

The era of cetaceans in captivity is coming to an end for many reasons: small populations, lack of breeding, antis, new laws, etc. In the USA all species of cetaceans, except for the bottlenose dolphins, are in danger of disappearing sooner or later. Belugas of course are not the exception even though they are the second largest cetacean population in USA. Aquariums are aware of that and that’s why they have been moving around whales so frequently. They also are trying to have larger groups just like in the wild in the three breeding facilities (Shedd, SW Texas and Georgia Aquarium) And Shedd even decided to breed Naya again, despite of being an old animal with a history of many unsuccessful calves. But she is wild born whale who recently had the most valuable calf with a male who is also not related to any other animal, so it was a worthy try.

However there are many problems that the aquariums are still facing:

- The population is too small. There are only 33 belugas, which includes many old and/or non-breeding females. Another problem is that almost all of the captive born animals are offspring of only three males: Nanuq, Imaq and Naluak, which is still alive and continue siring. So the gene pool is very limited, eventually inbreeding is going to happen. Introducing new animals won’t be easy, there are not many captive born belugas around the world (Kamogawa Sea World might be the best option) and we already know that the antis will not be happy about that. AI might be an option, but foreign animals must be trained for that and is not the most successful technique.

-Too many males. Most of the calves born in the last 10-20 years were males: that does not help to increase the number of animals; more females are needed.

-Most of the females (Atla, Pearl, Maple, Qinu) have yet to have their first pregnancy or their first successful calf, and they are not getting any younger. I do not know if any of them has a reproductive issue, but they should be start breeding as soon as possible.

- Space issue. Despite the fact that the population is small, there is no much space available at the six facilities. Of course, all of them can accommodate a few more animals (especially Mystic) but if breeding is boosted and/or more animals are introduced, more space will be needed.
Click to expand...

If, and I’m only talking eventually, the Texas orca pod moves to Orlando, then there’s a potential extra beluga habitat.

Personally hoping MLC’s whales, at least those who are captive-born, can get placements in the US, but worried when the trade talks between the countries are complicated right now.

Also hoping that the breeding embargo for Sahara and Jetta at Mystic is lifted come August/Fall. That’ll hopefully add another 2 who have yet to have their first calves.

Curious if sex-selective AI, I believe it was used for dolphins several years ago, can be used to rectify the male:female birth ratio.
 
Aelita said:
If, and I’m only talking eventually, the Texas orca pod moves to Orlando, then there’s a potential extra beluga habitat.

Personally hoping MLC’s whales, at least those who are captive-born, can get placements in the US, but worried when the trade talks between the countries are complicated right now.

Also hoping that the breeding embargo for Sahara and Jetta at Mystic is lifted come August/Fall. That’ll hopefully add another 2 who have yet to have their first calves.

Curious if sex-selective AI, I believe it was used for dolphins several years ago, can be used to rectify the male:female birth ratio.
Click to expand...
To sustain the population as much as possible without new animals, we should be seeing at a minimum 1 birth per breeding pod per year at this point.

I know SeaWorld was successful with bottle nosed dolphin sex-selective AI - but I have not heard if it has been attempted in any other cetaceans. AI was quite successful in orca and BNDs, but seems to not be so much in PWD or belugas.

As for MLC's belugas, it would be great if some of all could move to the US, but without any permits being applied for at this point, I doubt it will happen. I also suspect that the owners of MLC want to sell the animals, which probably means they will go to Asia.

As for space, many previous holders have probably renovated their spaces so not sure if they could ideally hold belugas as this point, but perhaps Point Defiance, New York Aquarium, and the Minnesota Zoo could move out the sea lions for belugas perhaps. All just complete speculation though.
 
MidwestFan said:
To sustain the population as much as possible without new animals, we should be seeing at a minimum 1 birth per breeding pod per year at this point.

I know SeaWorld was successful with bottle nosed dolphin sex-selective AI - but I have not heard if it has been attempted in any other cetaceans. AI was quite successful in orca and BNDs, but seems to not be so much in PWD or belugas.

As for MLC's belugas, it would be great if some of all could move to the US, but without any permits being applied for at this point, I doubt it will happen. I also suspect that the owners of MLC want to sell the animals, which probably means they will go to Asia.

As for space, many previous holders have probably renovated their spaces so not sure if they could ideally hold belugas as this point, but perhaps Point Defiance, New York Aquarium, and the Minnesota Zoo could move out the sea lions for belugas perhaps. All just complete speculation though.
Click to expand...

Would it be possible for them to extract reproductive material from wild belugas? Like animals that have been stranded and died or something

Also wanted to clarify that this post is in no way intended as support for the continuation of beluga breeding and/or keeping cetaceans; rather, I'm just trying to speculate (neutrally) on what these facilities are thinking of doing. I did not intend for my original post tone to seem favorable towards any certain scenario.
 
Aelita said:
If, and I’m only talking eventually, the Texas orca pod moves to Orlando, then there’s a potential extra beluga habitat.


Personally hoping MLC’s whales, at least those who are captive-born, can get placements in the US, but worried when the trade talks between the countries are complicated right now.


Also hoping that the breeding embargo for Sahara and Jetta at Mystic is lifted come August/Fall. That’ll hopefully add another 2 who have yet to have their first calves.


Curious if sex-selective AI, I believe it was used for dolphins several years ago, can be used to rectify the male:female birth ratio.
Click to expand...

Moving the belugas to the orca stadium could work; sure SW will have to make some modifications but it could be a reasonable option. The only problem is that could take many years.

Sahara and Jetta would be a great addition to the breeding population. I do not know if SW is allow to breed Tyonek, but when he gets older he could be a valuable sire.

MidwestFan said:
As for space, many previous holders have probably renovated their spaces so not sure if they could ideally hold belugas as this point, but perhaps Point Defiance, New York Aquarium, and the Minnesota Zoo could move out the sea lions for belugas perhaps. All just complete speculation though.
Click to expand...

Point Defiance could be the best option, especially for a small bachelor group.

In my opinion, SW missed a huge opportunity by not building a beluga habitat at Abu Dhabi. They could have sent some animals from the US and even could have got some animals from Asia, which eventually could help the gene pool in the US, just like they are planning to do with the walruses.
 
J-K said:
Would it be possible for them to extract reproductive material from wild belugas? Like animals that have been stranded and died or something

Also wanted to clarify that this post is in no way intended as support for the continuation of beluga breeding and/or keeping cetaceans; rather, I'm just trying to speculate (neutrally) on what these facilities are thinking of doing. I did not intend for my original post tone to seem favorable towards any certain scenario.
Click to expand...

I mentioned this in another related thread, but all activities would have to be scientifically justified and such activities could not constitute a 'take' or 'harm' to an individual (an unlikely feat for such an invasive procedure). On top of that, there would be a separate permitting process for the collected samples to be taken into possession and used. Plus additional permits for samples to be imported if collected outside of US waters.

It's designed to be laborious. The Marine Mammal Protection Act has teeth for a reason.
 
Aelita said:
Also hoping that the breeding embargo for Sahara and Jetta at Mystic is lifted come August/Fall. That’ll hopefully add another 2 who have yet to have their first calves.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't count your chickens on that. It's a rigorous review and there would have to be a just cause for the breeding ban to be lifted - a dwindling captive population doesn't constitute a just cause. Others on here can correct me, but I don't believe any Marineland belugas that have been imported have been part of any breeding in the US...
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
I wouldn't count your chickens on that. It's a rigorous review and there would have to be a just cause for the breeding ban to be lifted - a dwindling captive population doesn't constitute a just cause. Others on here can correct me, but I don't believe any Marineland belugas that have been imported have been part of any breeding in the US...
Click to expand...

Aurek is the only MLC beluga who has been part of the breeding program. He has sired at least three calves.
 
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