Pregnant Beluga B-Roll

Valentine's Day announcement: Beluga pregnancy at the aquarium! Staff at the Vancouver Aquarium are very excited about 12-year-old Qila's pregnancy. She was born at the Vancouver Aquarium to mom Aurora (and father Nanuq, currently on a breeding loan to SeaWorld) on July 23, 1995. Her entry into the world marked the first time that a beluga whale was conceived and born in a Canadian aquarium. A photo of that momentous occasion ran in the December 1995 issue of Life magazine. The gestation period for beluga whales is 14 -- 16 months. Qila's calf is due this summer, in July or August. Ultrasound results and blood tests show that Qila and the calf are in good health.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• vancouver
• aquarium
• beluga
• ultrasound

[kps1967]

I love this video - I felt calm just watching how relaxed she was while being examined.

Are Belugas calm by nature or was that a learned behaviour?

[VancouverAquarium]

Compared to the more familiar dolphins, belugas (because of their body shape) seem less active and more calm when they swim. But they do startle and swim in short bursts of speed, and do show aggression depending on the situation they're in.

[VancouverAquarium]

The marine mammal staff at the Aquarium work closely with the animals for a long period of time helping them to get comfortable with any monitoring equipments including ultrasound machines. So by the time we use the machine to monitor Qila's fetus, she's used to the ultrasound machine and knows to stay still for the procedure.

[anthonyvohra]

I just heard on the radio that Qila was giving birth. Am soo excited and can't wait to see the video. Am sure mum and baby are doing just fine.

[VancouverAquarium]

The video is up! I can't put links in the comment box, but go to our main YouTube channel to watch it. Thanks!

[orgaized4battle]

she just had one like 4 years ago no? Doesn't it upset the baby to have the ultrasound done? every image of the baby it seems to be very active!

[VancouverAquarium]

Thanks for the comment, modern diagnostic ultrasounds are well beyond the hearing range of whales and dolphins.

[ChrissyRK]

Snow Leopard Queen. Clearly you have never been to the Vancouver Aquarium. These Beluga Whales are slowly becoming more rare because their arctic habitats are disappearing due to our selfishness (global warming). The people at Vancouver Aquarium do a lot to help the whales out, and their work is to conserve the animals, which does involve keeping them at the aquarium. Ideally they would be born in the wild, but this is the next best thing.

[enime11]

Qila Had a baby girl today!

its cute and grey,

[damn1981991]

wow theyre so calm, i wonder what they put in the water?

[Coolgirl4462]

i went to the Vancouver Aquarium today and its awesome!!! i saw Qila today and she was so cool and amazing!

[EmberPrincess]

omg ultrasounds are so COOL :) you can see the

[xILOVESTRAWBERRIESx]

omg!..this video is so awesome!!

i love belugas!!^o^

[KarlyyMiracle]

Is the aquarium open in the middle of february? Or was there just nobody there? It looked freezing!

[doubledilute]

I`m so excited. The cattle must of stamped hearing Olie`s wahoo! I ment to say above Qila and the bay`s DAD not dam! ( his dam is Qila). As I asked last summer if she`s prego and got a funny lok, it`s nice to tell Olie he got to "pat" the bay in the mommy`s tummy like he does his cows and horses! I wont be able to sleep tonight and I know what they will be hearing tomorrow at school. Oh heck. here`s more hugs to you all! PS. Olie is giving his allowance to adopt some of the whales& help reseach.