Captive Beluga Whales in the U.S. & Canada

Big news! A baby beluga was born to mom Naya at the Shedd Aquarium on July 24th!

Shedd Aquarium on Instagram: " Baby beluga, oh baby beluga! BIG beluga news! We are joyously welcoming the newest member of the beluga whale pod at Shedd, born shortly after 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24, to mother, Naya. Mom and calf are doing well behind the scenes, with round-the-clock care from our veterinary and animal care teams. The calf is estimated to be 5 feet long and close to 105 pounds. The first few months of a beluga calf’s life are vital, and Shedd’s animal care team remains cautiously optimistic. For the next few weeks, caretakers will be watching day and night, observing the calf for important milestones, like regular nursing of mom’s fat-rich milk, rapid weight gain, bonding and swimming with mom – also called slipstreaming. To allow time and space for these vital milestones and observations, Shedd’s Secluded Bay habitat will stay temporarily closed. Beluga whale births are rarely seen in the wild. Observing them here at Shedd helps us collect data on the biology and behaviors associated with beluga whale pregnancy, birth and infancy. These invaluable insights help us to make well-informed, science-driven recommendations to safeguard some of the world’s most vulnerable beluga whale subpopulations in the wild. Stay tuned for more updates on calf and mom in the days to come, including when guests might get a peek at the new baby! We are thrilled to take you on this journey with us."
 
BlobfishBoy said:
Big news! A baby beluga was born to mom Naya at the Shedd Aquarium on July 24th!
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Huge news! Cautiously optimistic that this calf will be Naya's first surviving calf. This is her 4th time giving birth and her 5th calf. She had a stillborn calf in 2002, a calf in 2009 that survived 2 days, and her twin pregnancy in 2020 which resulted in 1 still birth and 1 calf surviving only weeks (twin births extremely rare in cetaceans with poor survival rates). Naya's genetic contribution through this calf will be welcomed to the US population as she is wild born.
 
As of August 2024, Marineland currently has a population of (14.20) 34 Belugas Whales. The following are all of the individuals I have been able to confirm are at the park through visits, conversations with regulars, and other means. The following 14 whales have an unknown status with only seven of them currently alive: Aurora, Ivy, Caspian, Cleopatra, Qila, Isis, Mira, Lillooet, Osiris, Neva, Kelowna, Peekachu, Jubilee, and Acadia. All of the boys along with Eos and Calypso are currently at Friendship Cove. Meanwhile the rest of the females live behind the scenes at Arctic Cove which is currently home to 0.18 belugas with 11 of them being listed below. I have confirmed that unless something changes, this is the last season the park will be open for. The future of the beluga pod is currently unknown. Lastly Marineland does not do paternity tests on their whales so it is unknown who is the father of each calves besides a few exceptions.

1.0 Andre (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Barents Sea, Russia
0.1 Gemini (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Meeka (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Rain (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
1.0 Orion (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Secord (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Skyla (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Sierra (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
1.0 Tofino (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Xena (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Jelly Bean (Unknown x Jubilee) 2007-07-19 at MarineLand
0.1 Eve (Unknown x Xena) 2008-07-05 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Tank (Unknown x Acadia) 2011-09-30 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Frankie (Unknown x Sierra) 2012-06-11 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Xavier II (Unknown x Xena) 2012-06-24 at Marineland Canada
0.1 Ruby (Tuk x Meeka) 2013-07-00 at Marineland Canada
0.1 Nahanni (Unknown x Lillooet) 2015-07-21 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Cyprus (Andre or Kodiak x Cleopatra) 2016-00-00 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Jasper (Andre or Kodiak x Meeka) 2016-07-18 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Balor (Andre or Kodiak x Peekachu) 2016-07-21 at Marineland Canada
0.1 Eos (Tuk x Eve) 2017-09-27 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Odin (Unknown x Osiris) 2018-07-00 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Yukon (Unknown x Aurora) 2018-07-00-00 at Marineland Canada
0.1 Calypso (Unknown x Gemini) 2018-07-04 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Bertie (Unknown x Jelly Bean) 2019-00-00 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Gimli (Unknown x Secord) 2019-08-00 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Zephyr (Unknown x Rain) 2019-08-11 at Marineland Canada
 
Jonathan Petersson said:
As of August 2024, Marineland currently has a population of (14.20) 34 Belugas Whales. The following are all of the individuals I have been able to confirm are at the park through visits, conversations with regulars, and other means. The following 14 whales have an unknown status with only seven of them currently alive: Aurora, Ivy, Caspian, Cleopatra, Qila, Isis, Mira, Lillooet, Osiris, Neva, Kelowna, Peekachu, Jubilee, and Acadia. All of the boys along with Eos and Calypso are currently at Friendship Cove. Meanwhile the rest of the females live behind the scenes at Arctic Cove which is currently home to 0.18 belugas with 11 of them being listed below. I have confirmed that unless something changes, this is the last season the park will be open for. The future of the beluga pod is currently unknown. Lastly Marineland does not do paternity tests on their whales so it is unknown who is the father of each calves besides a few exceptions.

1.0 Andre (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Barents Sea, Russia
0.1 Gemini (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Meeka (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Rain (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
1.0 Orion (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Secord (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Skyla (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Sierra (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
1.0 Tofino (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Xena (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Jelly Bean (Unknown x Jubilee) 2007-07-19 at MarineLand
0.1 Eve (Unknown x Xena) 2008-07-05 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Tank (Unknown x Acadia) 2011-09-30 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Frankie (Unknown x Sierra) 2012-06-11 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Xavier II (Unknown x Xena) 2012-06-24 at Marineland Canada
0.1 Ruby (Tuk x Meeka) 2013-07-00 at Marineland Canada
0.1 Nahanni (Unknown x Lillooet) 2015-07-21 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Cyprus (Andre or Kodiak x Cleopatra) 2016-00-00 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Jasper (Andre or Kodiak x Meeka) 2016-07-18 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Balor (Andre or Kodiak x Peekachu) 2016-07-21 at Marineland Canada
0.1 Eos (Tuk x Eve) 2017-09-27 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Odin (Unknown x Osiris) 2018-07-00 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Yukon (Unknown x Aurora) 2018-07-00-00 at Marineland Canada
0.1 Calypso (Unknown x Gemini) 2018-07-04 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Bertie (Unknown x Jelly Bean) 2019-00-00 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Gimli (Unknown x Secord) 2019-08-00 at Marineland Canada
1.0 Zephyr (Unknown x Rain) 2019-08-11 at Marineland Canada
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I really wonder where they're gonna go and how. How will 34 whales be distributed across facilities?
 
Kaleb said:
I really wonder where they're gonna go and how. How will 34 whales be distributed across facilities?
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Unfortunately, most will likely end up in Asian facilities and not the US population. Imports to the US will take too much time to be feasible, and after the unfortunate outcome of the Mystic Aquarium import I'm not sure any reputable aquariums would be willing to take the risk of acquiring belugas from Marineland ever again.
 
Neil chace said:
Unfortunately, most will likely end up in Asian facilities and not the US population. Imports to the US will take too much time to be feasible, and after the unfortunate outcome of the Mystic Aquarium import I'm not sure any reputable aquariums would be willing to take the risk of acquiring belugas from Marineland ever again.
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Does Canada's anti-cetacean captivity law even allow for exportation overseas? I believe that the Mystic Aquarium importation was only allowed in the end because it was for "research purposes".

Which, you can definitely make the argument was totally valid given Mystic's reputation, but would that reasoning really fly for any of the Asian facilities? The Chinese ones, at the very least, are absolutely geared towards entertainment. They can't exactly pretend otherwise.
 
Wisp O' Mist said:
Does Canada's anti-cetacean captivity law even allow for exportation overseas? I believe that the Mystic Aquarium importation was only allowed in the end because it was for "research purposes".
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The importation was only allowed due to "research purposes" under the Marine Mammal Protection Act in the United States (the same reason there haven't been any polar bear imports/exports).

Just read the Canadian law here: Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, and found the following quote about exportation:
  • (1.1) The Minister may, on application and on such terms and conditions as the Minister thinks fit, issue a permit authorizing the importation or exportation of a living cetacean, or sperm, a tissue culture or an embryo of a cetacean, if the importation or exportation is for the purpose of
    • (a) conducting scientific research; or

    • (b) keeping the cetacean in captivity if it is in the best interests of the cetacean’s welfare to do so.
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If Marineland does end up closing, then I think it could easily be argued that sending them to any other facility meets purpose "b", given that the alternative would be euthanizing the whales.
 
MidwestFan said:
Don’t forget that there are groups that are already talking about sending them to a sanctuary that does NOT exist.
Hopefully we will be surprised with imports to the US, but I’m not holding my breath.
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The Beluga sanctuary in Iceland very much exists and is being operated by a company with extensive experience in zoological operations
 
BlobfishBoy said:
I think at this point it’s fair to say that the money that went towards making the sanctuary as it is now could’ve been spent on a much more spacious and enriching indoor pool. From what I know the tank the belugas currently live in is not particularly impressive (correct me if I’m wrong).
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Last I heard they had to evacuate the whales to woefully inadequate indoor pools in the nearby village. I believe this may actually be the second time? Sea pen enclosures sound great in theory, but have proven to be problematic in many cases. Also, it never made much sense to me to build this facility in such a remote location. Limited ability to do any educational work with these amazing creatures, and I would hazard a guess logistically quite a bit more complicated and expensive to operate...
 
Nile Hippo Expert said:
Yet another beluga at Marineland has died, the fourth death of the species at the facility in the past year.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/niagara-marineland-ontario-beluga-death-1.7346973
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Correction; it would unfortunately be the third passing after the two back in February.
But 4 “within the past year” is partially correct.

I’ve sadly mentioned this before, in this thread I believe, sadly 3-4 is their average loss:(
It was always offset by births.
 
BlobfishBoy said:
I think at this point it’s fair to say that the money that went towards making the sanctuary as it is now could’ve been spent on a much more spacious and enriching indoor pool. From what I know the tank the belugas currently live in is not particularly impressive (correct me if I’m wrong).
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It’s also fair to say that their leadership could be pocketing some funds too.
While they did get Isabella Clegg, Animal welfare expertise, to do an evaluation on them.
But during covid they literally created a go fund me for the facility when Merlin should have been backing them financially.
 
CetaBase said:
The following beluga deaths at Marineland Canada have been posted via captive.ceta on IG
https://www.instagram.com/p/DBv9f-aR8r3/

Tuk (M), died on December 6, 2023
Qila (F), died ~ March 18, 2024
Nahanni (F), died ~ March 24, 2024
Isis (F), euthanized on July 16, 2024
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Small thing to add, based on the estimated ages that I had seen in person , the 2004 group (that Tuk is a part of) is around 27-28.

Meanwhile that would put Isis at an estimated 30-32, and the 2008 group at a minimum, 24.
 
Updated list. The Marineland Canada list may not be 100% accurate given their lack of transparency.

SWT (5.5)
Crissy F [WILD x WILD] (est 1988)
Martha F [WILD x WILD] (est 1988)
Naluark M [WILD x WILD] (est 1986)
Luna F [Luke* x Martina*] (b 07/24/2000)
Innik M [Imaq* x Crissy] (b 08/17/2017)
Tyonek M [WILD x WILD] (b 2017)
Atla F [Nanuq* x Luna] (b 06/23/2010)
Pearl F [Nanuq* x Ruby*] (b 06/23/2010)
Tulok M [Naluark x Luna] (b 07/25/2021)
Rurik M [? X Luna] (b 06/28/2024)

SWF (2.0)
Samson M [Imaq* x Luna] (b 07/09/2013)
Kenai M [Imaq* x Luna] (b 08/11/2016)

SWC (2.1)
Allua F [WILD x WILD] (est 1985)
Klondike M [? X Xena] (b 07/13/2002)
Oliver M [Nanuq* x Martina*] (b 06/23/2007)

Mystic (1.4)
Natasha F [WILD x WILD] (est 1980)
Kelalukak F [WILD x WILD] (est 1981)
Juno M [? X Denise*] (b 07/06/2002)
Jetta F [? X Skyla] (b 07/17/2014)
Sahara F [? X Acadia] (b 07/23/2014)

Georgia (1.4)
Whisper F [Luke* x Crissy] (b 07/25/1999)
Maple F [? X Priscilla] (b 07/02/2005)
Qinu F [Nanuq* x Sikku*] (b 07/31/2008)
Shila F [? X Whisper] (b 05/17/2020)
Nunavik M [Naluark x Puiji*] (b 12/14/2009)

Shedd (5.4)
Beethoven M [Shadow* x Bandit*] (b 08/08/1992)
Naya F [WILD x WILD] (est 1989)
Kayavak F [Inuk* x Immiayuk*] (b 08/03/1999)
Aurek M [? X Gemini] (b 06/27/2003)
Bella F [Naluark x Puiji*] (b 07/17/2006)
Kimalu F [Naluark x Mauyak*] (b 08/27/2012)
Annik M [Aurek x Mauyak*] (b 07/03/2019)
Atlas M [? X Bella] (b 08/21/2020)
UNKNOWN M [? X Naya] (b 07/24/2024)

Total US Population (34)
16.18
* Deceased
------------

MarineLand Canada (14.18)
*Friendship Cove* (14)
Andre M (WILD x WILD) (c 1998)
Balor M (Andre or Kodiak x Peeachu) (b 07/21/2016)
Bertie M (UNKNOWN x Jelly Bean) (b 2019)
Cyprus M (Andre or Kodiak x Cleopatra) (b 2016)
Frankie M (Andre x Sierra) (b 06/11/2012)
Gimli M (UNKNOWN x Secord) (b 08/2019)
Jasper M (Andre or Kodiak x Meeka) (b 07/18/2016)
Odin M (UNKNOWN x Oriris) (b 07/2018)
Orion M (WILD x WILD) (c 2004)
Tank M (UNKNOWN x Acadia) (b 09/30/2011)
Tofino M (WILD x WILD) (c 2004)
Xavier II M (UNKNOWN x Xena) (b 06/24/2012)
Yukon M (UNKNOWN x Aurora) (b 07/2018)
Zephyr M (UNKNOWN x Rain) (b 08/11/2019)

*Artic Cove* (18)
Acadia F (WILD x WILD) (c 2008)
Aurora F (WILD x WILD) (c 2008)
Calypso F (UNKNOWN x Gemini) (b 07/04/2018)
Caspian F (WILD x WILD) (c 2003)
Cleopatra F (WILD x WILD) (c 2003)
Eos F (Tuk x Eve*) (b 09/27/2017)
Gemini F (WILD x WILD) (c 1999)
Jelly Bean F (UNKNOWN x Jubilee*) (b 07/19/2007)
Lillooet F (WILD x WILD) (c 2008)
Meeka F (WILD x WILD) (c 2008)
Neva F (UNKNOWN x Cleopatra) (b 07/23/2009)
Osiris F (WILD x WILD) (c 2003)
Peekachu F (WILD x WILD) (c 2004)
Rain F (WILD x WILD) (c 2008)
Secord F (WILD x WILD) (c 2008)
Sierra F (WILD x WILD) (c 2003)
Skyla F (WILD x WILD) (c 2004)
Xena F (WILD x WILD) (c 1999)

Total Canada Population (32)
14.18
* Deceased
 
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