Captive Beluga Whales in the U.S. & Canada

Updated US Beluga Population List

SWT (5.5)
Crissy F
Martha F
Naluark M
Luna F (b 07/24/2000)
Samson M (b 07/09/2013)
Kenai M (b 08/11/2016)
Innik M (08/17/2017)
Tyonek M
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
Allua F
Klondike M (b 07/13/2002)

Mystic (1.2)
Natasha F
Kelalukak F
Juno M (b 07/06/2002)

Georgia (2.4)
Imaq M
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 (3.5)
Mauyak F
Beethoven M (b 08/08/1992)
Naya F
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)

Total US Population
15.17
 
Bella, first time mother, has delivered a healthy male calf at Shedd on Friday, August 21, 2020!
Shedd and beluga whale Bella welcome an energetic calf! | Shedd Aquarium

Now we wait for Naya's calf!

Current beluga population:
SWT (5.5)
Crissy F
Martha F
Naluark M
Luna F (b 07/24/2000)
Samson M (b 07/09/2013)
Kenai M (b 08/11/2016)
Innik M (08/17/2017)
Tyonek M
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
Allua F
Klondike M (b 07/13/2002)

Mystic (1.2)
Natasha F
Kelalukak F
Juno M (b 07/06/2002)

Georgia (2.4)
Imaq M
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
Beethoven M (b 08/08/1992)
Naya F
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)
Bella’s Calf M (b 08/21/2020)

Total US Population
16.17
 
Mystic Aquarium granted approval of permit to import 5 belugas (1.4) from Marineland Canada. However, the breeding part of the permit is notably not approved in the actual permit from NOAA/NMFS. Mystic has to have a contraception plan in place and approved before the animals can be imported. This is very unfortunate for the sustainability of the beluga population and genetic diversity of the population in the US.

The five animals identified in the permit to be imported are:
KHARABALI; NOA0010671
Offspring of dam Aurora (wild capture, Sea of Okhotsk, Russia); sire Kodiak (wild capture, Sea of Okhotsk, Russia)
Captive born Juvenile; Born 07/20/14
Female

MIRA; NOA0010672
Offspring of dam Oceanna (wild capture, Sea of Okhotsk, Russia); sire Andre (wild capture, Barents or White Sea, Russia)
Captive born Adult; Born 07/13/09
Female

QILA; NOA0010673
Offspring of dam Isis (wild capture, Sea of Okhotsk, Russia); sire definitively unknown, but thought to be Andre (wild capture, Barents or White Sea, Russia)
Captive born Adult; Born 6/6/10
Female

FRANKIE; NOA0010674
Offspring of dam Sierra (wild capture, Sea of Okhotsk, Russia); sire Andre (wild capture, Barents or White Sea, Russia)
Captive born Juvenile; Born 6/11/12
Male

HAVANA; NOA0010675
Offspring of dam Kelowna (wild capture, Sea of Okhotsk, Russia); sire Andre (wild capture, Barents or White Sea, Russia)
Captive born Juvenile; Born 07/23/15
Female

NOAA approves Mystic Aquarium to import 5 beluga whales
 
Shedd birth announced, Naya (Beluga) actually gave birth to twins, however one was stillborn. Very rare in cetaceans to see multiples. The surviving calf is small for gestational age, likely due to twin status. Birth was either Sunday or Monday, it is unclear which twin was born which day from what I can find.

Katrl and Naya both welcome newborns! | Shedd Aquarium
 
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 (1.2)
Natasha F (est 1980)
Kelalukak F (est 1981)
Juno M (b 07/06/2002)

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 (4.5.1)
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)
Bella’s Calf M (b 08/21/2020)
Naya’s Calf ? (b 08/30/2020)

Total US Population
16.17.1
 
MidwestFan said:
I would not be surprised if this is due to deaths that may have occurred at Marineland. They are not transparent about status of animals, and will probably have to wait until they reopen to know for sure...
Click to expand...
I cannot really confirm or deny. The Marine Mammal Inventory Report still lists all three as alive as of December 29, but I don’t know if Mystic Aquarium or Marineland Canada is the party responsible for reporting deaths to NOAA. It’s also not the most accurate method of collecting data in foreign facilities because often neither party is really required to notify the US government of the death (for instance, I believe one of the dolphins that SeaWorld sent to Dolfinarium Harderwijk, Ralph, is still listed as alive).
 
Luna, a 20 year old female is pregnant at SeaWorld Texas. I have not seen an expected birth range yet. A very clear ultrasound was posted to the parks facebook page:
Log into Facebook

No mention of sire, but would suspect proven male Naluark.

Current residents:
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)
 
Bella's calf at Shedd is 6 months old and has been named Atlas. No mention of sire yet.

Current Beluga Population @ Shedd:
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)
 
Does anyone on here know if its at all reasonable for any more facilities to house beluga whales? Or are the six locations we have the only ones there will ever be. I know Mystic has said that they'll likely no longerkeep belugas in the forseeable future, and it would be a real shame if only five places (at most) had such a beautiful animal species. I'm not asking if anyone is planning to get new belugas, just if it is a realistic possibility?
 
Neil chace said:
Does anyone on here know if its at all reasonable for any more facilities to house beluga whales? Or are the six locations we have the only ones there will ever be. I know Mystic has said that they'll likely no longerkeep belugas in the forseeable future, and it would be a real shame if only five places (at most) had such a beautiful animal species. I'm not asking if anyone is planning to get new belugas, just if it is a realistic possibility?
Click to expand...
Just curious. Where did you hear Mystic may phase out belugas?
 
iluvwhales said:
Just curious. Where did you hear Mystic may phase out belugas?
Click to expand...
Mystic's 2016 Strategic Plan.

EDIT: I double-checked the document and it said it was a POSSIBILITY that belugas would be phased out, so its not a definite. Its also worth noting that it was a five-year plan in which the vast majority never happened (Antarctic Penguins, River Otters, Shark Exhibit, etc.). I do not know whether these have been delayed or cancelled, but I misread the part on belugas at first, not realising it was just one possibility.
The part on belugas states, "The Future of Beluga Whales at Mystic Aquarium The Arctic Coast beluga whale exhibit provides an outstanding environment and guest experience. In addition, we enjoy an excellent reputation for animal care and training, which provides significant appeal to other institutions. Considerable attention must be given to the exhibit’s future because Mystic Aquarium owns only one beluga whale. We are dependent upon holding other institutions’ animals to preserve our display. The organization is at crossroads: having belugas on display or transforming the Arctic Coast to another species. Keeping beluga whales will be largely dependent upon our ability to craft long-term agreements with other beluga holding institutions. Pinnipeds may present an interesting alternative for this exhibit. Whatever species is chosen, it must be engaging and charismatic".
 
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There is definitely the possibility that a few more facilities could pick them up in the future, but there's a variety of factors going against them. First off, cetaceans are probably *the* biggest hot button controversial species a facility can pick up, which makes a number of facilities reluctant to add them on. In addition to that, construction and upkeep of a new exhibit suitable for belugas is very expensive.

Beyond these two issues, the other thing is supply. The US is essentially stuck with the animals they currently have, without the option to import more. The US population is arguably going the best it ever has, but its still, went it comes down to it, a relatively small number of animals that breed slowly. Its becoming increasingly apparent belugas breed best when they're housed in large social groups, so it makes absolutely no sense to scatter them about, 2 or three animals to a facility, where breeding results suffer. Right now San Antonio and Shedd are the two main breeding groups, with Georgia finally starting to see success with their group too. The other holders all have either younger males, or non breeding females, and I truly hope it stays that way for a number of years.
 
I think the aquarium's vested interest in importing more animals suggests they don't plan on phasing-out the species. If they ever do, I'd like to see the Steller's Sea Lions moved into their current enclosure.

~Thylo
 
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