The Shedd Aquarium has revealed that its baby beluga whale is a boy, and he’s already making a splash!
The Shedd Aquarium has revealed that the six-month-old beluga’s gender was determined through regular check-ups to monitor his development.
The young whale, born July 24, 2024, to 35-year-old mother Naya and father Beethoven—the Shedd’s oldest male beluga—is now eating solid fish, swimming in new spaces, and building relationships with the animal care team and his pod.
“Beluga fathers have no parental role or attachment to their calves, and it will be several months until Beethoven and the calf are introduced,” the aquarium said.
Since birth, the calf has grown nearly three times his size, an important milestone as calves need to build blubber and fat reserves. He has also spent time with Atlas, the Shedd’s second-youngest beluga, according to the aquarium.
Visitors may catch a glimpse of the baby beluga as he continues to explore new spaces.
“Guests can identify the young whale as the smallest in size and darkest in color compared to the rest of the pod,” the aquarium said.
Name the Beluga:
Now that the calf has reached several milestones, the aquarium is asking for help in naming him.
Members can choose from four names suggested by the animal care team:
- Campbell: for the Campbell Creek Estuary Park also in Anchorage where belugas have been known to swim and feed on spawning salmon there
- Kincaid: for a park around Anchorage, Alaska that is home to two beluga observation stations for the annual “Belugas Count!” event that looks for endangered Cook Inlet whales
- Leucas: for the scientific name of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas)
- Opus: for a musical composition or set of compositions usually numbered in the order of its issue, in honor of his father Beethoven and referencing belugas being the “canaries of the sea” with their unique vocalizations
Current and new aquarium members can cast their votes in a virtual poll, which ends Thursday, Feb. 27.
The results will be announced one week later, with members learning the outcome first.
