Two New Baby Belugas

By Michael Morel

Date: 2002-07-18

Niagara Falls, Canada - Two new baby beluga whales were born at Marineland! Denise gave birth to her first calf on Saturday, July 6, 2002 at approximately 11:15 p.m. EDT. A second beluga whale calf was born to Xena on Saturday, July 13 at 4:30 p.m. EDT. This was the first time a beluga whale calf has be born at Marineland, although they have had success with a number of Orcas being born on site.

So far both calves seems to be doing very well. However, Marineland’s staff members are cautiously optimistic about the new baby’s chance of survival because the mortality rate for newborn beluga whales is high.

Marineland’s staff of caregivers were already conducting a 24-hour watch at the beluga habitat after the birth of the first calf on July 6, 2002. As with the first calf, the staff will time and record feedings, respirations and all other activity, and compare this data with data gathered from beluga whale births at other marine parks.		One of the calves is seen here nursing on his Mother. Marineland is currently in the construction phase of new 11 million litre (2.5 million gallon) habitat for the belugas called Arctic Cove due to be completed late 2002.