Baby beluga in the deep blue sea, Swim so wild and you swim so free. Heaven above and the sea below, And a little white whale on the go...
Say hello to Aurora, a 20-year old beluga whale at the Vancouver Aquarium.
Aurora gave birth to a 5 foot, 132-154lb calf at 3:39pm after a 3-hour laber--just in time for World Oceans Day!
The Aquarium's veterinary team has determined with 90% certainty that the calf is female.
The calf's father is Imaq, the only male beluga at the Vancouver Aquarium. He's also the father of Tiqa, a baby beluga born to Qila on June 10, 2008.
The other belugas at the Vancouver Aquarium currently include 40-year old Kavna, the oldest female beluga.
The Vancouver Aquarium sent out some interesting facts about belugas and the birthing process.
Did you know that belugas are usually born tail first? Immediately after birth, the calf will head to the surface to take its first breath of air from its blowhole. Mothers may or may not aid it to the surface.
In this case, we were told that Aurora was at the calf's side when it happened!
The calf was a wrinkled slab of smoky slate and grey when it was first born. Belugas will gradually lighten as the whale matures.
Congratulations to the Vancouver Aquarium on its new addition!
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