Qila & Calf Updates

We are continuing to observe Qila and her calf, noting any changes in behaviour with interest. We’ll share them here with you as often as we can.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

5 p.m.

There’s been a beluga family reunion!

At around 7 o’clock last Monday (August 11) evening, three generations of a beluga whale family were reunited here at the Vancouver Aquarium.

Aurora was reintroduced to her daughter, Qila, and her newborn grand-daughter (as yet unnamed) in the main habitat of the Arctic Canada exhibit.

The newborn beluga initially met her grandmother on the day she was born, June 10, 2008.  A few hours after her birth, Aurora the grandmother was relocated in an adjacent yet separate habitat. 

This was done as a way of allowing Qila and her baby beluga the time and space needed to form the critical bond between a mother and its newborn.

Since June 10, the baby beluga and her grandmother have been able to communicate to one another between pools using their vocalizations.  And now they can continue to do so as they also swim and live together, along with Qila.

Please watch the beluga cam to catch a glimpse of these three beautiful and amazing creatures.

August 1, 2008

4 p.m.

The Aquarium's marine mammal and veterinary teams continue to report the baby beluga is progressing well.

She is spending more time interacting with visitors in the Aquarium's underwater viewing area.

Return visitors are noticing the baby beluga is growing at a steady rate and, thanks to continued regular nursing, she’s putting on a healthy layer of blubber.

When diving, she is spending longer and longer underwater and even rubbing on the bottom of her habitat, a sure sign she's becoming more independent and curious about her surroundings.

The calf's mom, Qila, is still keeping a close eye on her baby and sometimes doesn't have to look very far. While mom is swimming upside-down as she often does, the baby beluga is nearby watching everything Qila does. She interacts with the trainers more often and has been seen blowing a tiny bubble ring.

Friday, July 18, 2008

12 p.m.

The Aquarium’s marine mammal & veterinary teams are reporting continued positive developments in the baby beluga.

She’s becoming more curious with her surroundings.  The calf will now at times approach the glass which is part of the Aquarium’s underwater viewing gallery and have a look at the Aquarium visitors who are fortunate enough to spend a few minutes observing this amazing creature.

Upon surfacing, the baby beluga is now making her vocalizations in the open air.  Some squeaking and rattling can be heard from her at the surface of the water.  She’s even sounding “raspberries”, which is similar to the human behaviour of sticking out your tongue and blowing out air!

The baby beluga continues to develop in physical size, too.  She is now nearly double the size compared to her appearance at birth.  Her length has increased by a considerable amount and her girth has also expanded in a very noticeable way.

She is just completing her moult (a shedding of her skin) with her appearance smoothing out once again.  Occasionally you may still observe her on the Aquarium’s beluga cam rubbing her exterior alongside a ledge in her habitat.  That behaviour is a natural part of her moulting process as she attempts to finish this phase of her development.

The baby’s mom, Qila, often finds her little one swimming alongside her now.  The baby is staying close and often mimicking or repeating some of Qila’s swimming patterns and characteristics.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

10 a.m.

The Aquarium’s veterinary and marine mammal staff continue to see positive progress in the development of the baby beluga. She is nursing well and taking lots of naps as babies do.

She’s been speed swimming and occasionally performing some deeper dives. We’re also seeing some playful behaviours: the calf will surface and spit water up into the air. 

She’s recovering from her illness and continues to receive antibiotic treatment. From time to time she’ll rest at the surface and may rest this way for up to an hour or so before returning to swimming activity.

The Aquarium’s veterinary and marine mammal teams are cautiously optimistic with the progress and recovery of the baby beluga.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008
6 p.m.
 
The calf remains active and is nursing well and regularly.

We’re seeing some more new and interesting behaviours from the calf. She:

• continues to perfect her barrel rolls
• is staring to squirt water (a behaviour adult belugas do while playing and digging for food from the bottom of the ocean)
• is exploring the deeper areas of the exhibit (this means she’s stronger and is able to hold her breath a little longer)
• is drafting along with her Mom, Qila, for short periods (this is a behaviour also seen in the Arctic when young calves slipstream, catch a free ride, on mom’s back as she swims)
• seems very comfortable with the presence of the trainers and is starting to come closer to them when they work with her Mom, Qila

Training sessions with Mom, Qila, continue and this is giving the calf plenty of chances to investigate those two-legged trainers.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

12 p.m.

Today’s observations on Qila and her newborn calf are very similar to those made yesterday.

The Aquarium’s veterinary team continues to feel the calf has regained much of her energy and vitality.

She’s been engaging herself actively with swimming, nursing and some barrel rolls.

As expected she is still recovering, so from time to time the calf is also observed to be spending some of her time resting at the surface, a behaviour known as “logging”.  She may rest this way for up to an hour or so before returning to swimming activity.

She is observed to be stable and without the weakness observed last Sunday and part of Monday.

Qila’s pregnancy was observed and monitored on a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week basis well before delivering her calf.  This schedule continues since birth and shall remain in place.

The baby beluga is nursing well, eating lots and taking lots of naps as babies do.

A precautionary approach remains in place by the veterinary team, as the calf continues to receive antibiotic treatment.

A sense of cautious optimism among the Aquarium’s veterinary and marine mammal care teams continues as progress remains evident with the baby beluga.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
6:30 a.m.

The baby beluga is doing well this morning.

In the late night hours of Tuesday and early morning hours of Wednesday, our veterinarian team has noted several important observations of the 15 day old beluga calf, along with her mother, Qila.

At this time, we’re seeing the calf continue to behave in a normal manner. She is showing strong signs of regaining all of her energy and alertness and continues to show the health improvements observed throughout yesterday.

Through the night, the calf and her Mom did manage to get some well-deserved rest.

Nursing is strong between mom and baby. The calf has nursed very well and continues to be well-fed this morning by Qila.

She is swimming very well, and continuing to explore her newfound diving ability. Her barrel roll activity also continued overnight and this morning.

The baby beluga is following her Mom with a high energy level and good strength. We’re also seeing the calf continue to explore her independence on a regular basis as she spends time on her own from time to time.

A precautionary approach remains in place by the veterinary team, as the calf receives antibiotic treatment which shall carry on for at least a week. Still pending are results from additional lab tests. The specific antibiotics may change depending on the bacterial culture results.

A sense of cautious optimism among the Aquarium’s veterinary and marine mammal staff continues this morning as progress remains evident with the baby beluga.

This team shall carry on with its 24 hour observation of the newborn and her Mom, and we will keep you well-informed on this webpage with new developments.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

1:00 p.m.

Today, the calf’s overnight behaviour has continued: she remains very playful and is behaving normally.

Results from the lab tests are still pending. For now we are taking the precautionary approach – the calf is receiving antibiotics and her treatment will likely continue for at least a week. The specific antibiotics may change depending on the bacterial culture results.

Currently, our marine mammal and veterinary staff are happy with the progress of the calf and remain cautiously optimistic.

They continue to observe Qila and her calf around the clock, noting every behaviour, every breath, bowel movement, etc. to ensure that they give the best post-natal care available anywhere.

The calf continues to nurse well and Qila continues to be very attentive.

Monday, June 23, 2008

9:00 p.m.

We observed some new behaviours and episodes of apparent weakness on the calf beginning Sunday that prompted our marine mammal staff and medical team to conduct an exam this morning and a follow-up exam later in the day. This exam included the collection of blood cultures.

The physical examination of the calf revealed a fluid-filled lump where her body narrows near the base of the tail, called the caudal peduncle.

Because this was a possible abscess, it was flushed and antibiotic treatment was started immediately.

Her bloodwork appeared generally normal. Cultures that would identify any bacteria infection are pending; the results from these tests will take up to 5 days.

Late afternoon today, approximately four hours after the treatment of the abscess and the first dosage of antibiotics, the calf's energy improved tremendously. She has been bright, alert, nursing very well, and swimming very actively through the night. 

Our concern, as always, is for the health and comfort of the calf and her mom, Qila.

As the calf develops, we’re seeing her:

• spend more time in a resting position at the surface
• spend more time wandering away from her mother — she’s more independent
• roll onto her back at the surface — exploring her new-found capabilities
• sloughing her skin and looking more patchy — a normal occurrence at this stage of development; she’s going to look a little ragged for a while
• feed and gain weight — she’s filling out her fetal folds and loosing her wrinkled-look
• with marine mammal staff in the water as part of the round-the-clock veterinary care and observation