A Beluga Whale is born in the Oceanográfico of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias
· This is the first birth of one of this species in a European centre
· For at least a month, the Arctic zone will be closed to the public
After more than a 16-month period of pregnancy, “Yulka”, the female Beluga whale of the Oceanográfico of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, gave birth yesterday to the first baby beluga of this species to be born in a European centre.
The birth took place at 11.08 p.m. after eight hours of labour. The baby whale, whose sex has not been confirmed, is 1.2 metres long and weighs approximately 90 Kg. In contrast to adult belugas, it is light grey in colour, a colour that will slowly fade as it grows.
This event that has delighted the staff of the Oceanográfico of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, despite the cautious prognosis on the young beluga whale chances of survival. The fact is that the probability of not surviving the first weeks and months is very high. This is normal in nature given the inexperience and youth of the mother and the high mortality rate among newborn beluga whales.
However, this birth already represents a landmark in the study and preservation of this species, as so far only about twenty belugas have reproduced in oceanariums of the United States, Canada and Japan, with which the Oceanográfico envisaged developing reproduction coordination plans.
Over the first weeks, team of carers will constantly watch over the mother while data is gathered in order to better understand the mother-baby relationship of this species. Moreover, and so as not to disturb the mother and baby, the “Arctic” installation where these two together with a group of walruses are housed will be closed to the public for at least a month. When the O.K. is given, restricted and controlled visits will begin.
During this period, it is essential to maintain a comfortable atmosphere for the beluga family until it is quite sure that a good lactation development has been established. To maintain peace and quiet, “Kairo”, the father of the newborn beluga, was separated from the mother just before birth and will remain apart until it is sure that there is no risk involved in reuniting him with the rest of the group.
“Yulka, 8 years old, and “Kairo”, between 18 and 20 years old, are the only representatives of their species in European institutions. Both arrived in July 2003 at the installations of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias from the Mar del Plata, in Argentina. Since then, they have received all kinds of attentions from the team of specialist carers and veterinary surgeons of the Oceanográfico.
If this animal continues to develop well, it will be incorporated into the research project on the acoustic behaviour of these animals that has been in progress at the Oceanográfico since 2003. The aim of that project is to better understand their form of communication, to protect them from the acoustic contamination that they encounter is the waters they inhabit and to design devices for controlling and protecting their populations in the open sea.
*** On the strict instructions of the biology and veterinary management team media access to he Arctic installation is prohibited.
