Pregnant Beluga @ Vancouver Aquarium
So, have you heard the news? It was just announced today that Aurora, the grandma beluga at the Vancouver Aquarium, is pregnant! I got an email at 9 in the morning with the oh-so-exciting news.
Now, here’s the “twisted” part. Let’s get you filled in on some Vancouver Aquarium beluga facts if you’re not already familiar with them.
There are currently 5 belugas living at the Aquarium:
Kavna: She’s the oldest and is living behind-the-scenes right now because of Tiqa.
Imaq (E-mac): He’s the only male in the group and is living behind-the-scenes with Kavna right now. Apparently he likes to sleep with everyone. Imagine if he gets Kavna pregnant too. Oh my.
Aurora: She’s the mother to Qila (father is Imaq) and grandmother to Tiqa and is currently pregnant (by Imaq). She had another kid with Imaq in the past but that one passed away.
Qila (KEE-la): She’s the daughter of Aurora and mother to Tiqa (father is Imaq).
Tiqa (TEE-ka): She’s the newest beluga, still gray and growing, daughter of Qila.
Incest much, Imaq?
Well, it’s fine for belugas obviously. As long as they keep having more kids! Never a bad thing for them.
This new baby is scheduled to arrive sometime in June or July, which is when belugas are usually born. I really wonder how they’re gonna manage having two baby belugas in the same habitat. Will they move Qila and Tiqa elsewhere when Aurora gives birth? They’ll probably have to, since Qila had to be isolated from everyone.
They need a bigger habitat, that’s for sure.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Rajbir,
Yeah, the family info is pretty twisted. But I guess as long as they’re making more of them!
February 10th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Haha, I guess so… if that’s the goal.
February 12th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Yeah, and the Aquarium people are happy that there’s gonna be another baby cause then Tiqa gets a playmate and everything. But then again Tiqa will be calling the new baby her aunt or uncle.
February 12th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
It should be an uncle, Imaq should start sharing… lol.
February 12th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Ahahaha yah. It’d be a while until the little ones could have kids though.
February 12th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
It shouldn’t take long, he’ll learn fast enough from his father.
February 12th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
February 13th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
That’s gonna spark some real competition when they are put together, lol.
February 13th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Ahahaha yeah. I don’t know if belugas have an age where they stop breeding and stuff though.
February 13th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
The grandmother is pregnant… for some reason I think age won’t stop Imaq.
February 13th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Ahaha probably. He’s in the same habitat as Kavna right now and Kavna’s much older. Imagine if he gets her pregnant too. Hoo boy.
February 13th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
From reading what you wrote in the post, it seems Imaq has been working hard. Wouldn’t be surprised if he did a bit of overtime.
February 14th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Yeah. Whenever mating season comes, then Imaq just goes for whatever he can get I guess.
Gets turned on by everything around him.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:27 am
The family of beluga’s is quiet interesting.. Most important part of that is Imaq is the only male who is responsible for the expansion of the family…
March 26th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Concept Cars,
Yes that’s very true. Without Imaq, there would probably be just half of the belugas there are now.
March 27th, 2009 at 4:25 am
Yes… and yeah thank god that it is a family of Beluga’s and not of a Human being.. or else the situation may come to a population explosion.
March 27th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Oh definitely a good thing they’re not humans. Not only would that cause a “population explosion”, but time in jail too.
May 30th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Hello, is there an ‘about me’ page somewhere on here ’cause I can’t seem to find it?
May 31st, 2009 at 11:31 am
Michael Zhao,
No, I haven’t made up an “About Me” page yet, but I plan on doing that soon. Thanks for reminding me haha.
June 21st, 2009 at 9:03 pm
[...] this new beluga is the half-sister and aunt to Tiqa. Read about their twisted family tree here.) The little one doesn’t have a name yet, but the Aquarium will definitely put out a [...]