It’s a new bouncing baby beluga girl!

20-year-old Aurora gave birth to her latest calf at 3:39pm on Sunday, June 7, 2009.

Watch a video of the birth on our YouTube Channel. Keep up to date with the calf by visiting the baby beluga updates page.

This newborn beluga is:

• about 1.5 m long and weighs roughly 60 to 70 kg

• slate grey – she will gradually lighten as she matures

• wrinkled for the first few weeks

• adorable

Trained beluga observers have been watching Aurora around the clock for a few weeks now, in anticipation of her calf’s birth. This 24-hour watch is now monitoring Aurora and the newborn calf to ensure that they have the best care possible.

Aurora is an experienced mom but the trainers and the veterinary staff will still be carefully watching for the first few milestones after a birth – bonding and nursing.

Qila and her year-old calf, Tiqa, were introduced to Aurora and the newborn calf on Monday June 8 – the day after the calf was born. Staff and volunteers carefully note the interesting social interactions developing among the four belugas.

And now, there are two

There is another mom and calf pair living with Aurora and her calf. The older and bigger calf – Tiqa – was born on June 10, 2008. Her Mom, Qila, is Aurora’s first daughter.

Qila was born at the Aquarium on July 23, 1995, and made Canadian history in 1995 as the first beluga calf to be conceived and born in an aquarium, and again with the birth of her calf, Tiqa. She’s the first aquarium-born beluga to give birth in an aquarium in Canada.

There’s still so much we don’t know about belugas. So Aquarium staff and researchers are excited to have this opportunity to watch two calves growing up together − their growth and interactions will teach us a lot about them.

Where’s dad?

In preparation for Tiqa’s birth last year, two other belugas (Imaq and Kavna) were moved to the Aquarium’s research area behind the scenes. They are keeping each other company.

Imaq is the father of both Qila’s and Aurora’s calf.

Vancouver Aquarium Beluga Family

On your next visit to the Aquarium

… you’ll likely see our trained volunteer observers watching Aurora and her newborn.

Right now, this 24-hour watch is monitoring Aurora and her calf for bonding and nursing behavours. The watch will continue for several months.

Instead of shows, you can expect to join impromptu talks that will happen throughout the day. Aquarium Interpreters will also be available to answer any of your questions.

The Underwater Beluga Viewing Gallery is now open daily from 10:00 AM - 4:15 PM. We are letting small groups in every five minutes to minimize distractions while Aurora and her calf bond.

Check back often for regular updates. We’ll describe what we’re doing to give you access to this rarely seen natural event. Keep up to date with the calf by visiting the baby beluga updates page.

You can view Aurora and the new calf live on our beluga web cam.

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