Beluga calf video: nursing
Puiji’s calf, who turned 7 weeks old on Monday, is one plump little beluga. He has just about filled out his fetal folds, the deep wrinkles in his sides from when he was tucked in the womb. The trainers estimate that he’s gained at least 60 pounds since he was born, putting him at more than 220 pounds. He’s longer, too. Of course, he’s nursing from his mom and from the two other females in Puiji’s social group, Naya and Mauyak, so he’s getting plenty of nourishment.
At this point, the calf makes it look easy as he sails over to one whale or another to nurse. But in the beginning, imagine how hard it is when mom doesn’t have arms to cradle and baby doesn’t have hands to grasp – and both are swimming.
That’s why Shedd’s animal care team members wait anxiously for each beluga calf to figure out where the milk is and how to get it. They heaved a collective sigh of relief when Puiji’s calf started nursing when he was 24 hours old – thanks in large part to Puiji’s ability to guide the little guy to the right place while he was having early difficulties diving to reach her mammary glands.
In a matter of days, however, the calf became a nimble swimmer, ducking under mom, bumping her mammary glands with his head – stimulating milk production – and latching on for a meal.
When he nurses, he rolls his tongue into a soda-straw-like tube. Once the calf has his mouth firmly on the mammary, Puiji contracts the muscles around the gland to give him a high-pressure squirt of milk that is about 27 percent butterfat. (For comparison, half-and-half is about 11 percent, premium ice creams can run as high as 18 percent, and whipped cream is about 35 percent butterfat.) The calf nurses about every 30 minutes, getting two to six good long draws each time. And if Mom is tired but the calf wants more, he switches to Naya or Mauyak.
Be sure to visit Puiji’s calf soon in Polar Play Zone, and check out other beluga calf updates, including videos, downloadable activities, coupons, and more!
Posted by Karen Furnweger, web editor
wow he is getting so much blubbber!! good job baby!!
Posted by: faith | February 08, 2010 at 01:27 PM
He's so cute! Nice to see he's doing so well. When will you release the naming contest??
Posted by: Joe D. | February 08, 2010 at 07:35 PM
I never knew he nurses less and less as the days go on. I did see him nursing a bit off of Mauyak and Naya (yes, I can tell them apart from Puiji). I can tell Naya, Puiji and Mauyak apart because Puiji's face is kind of scrunched up, and Mauyak has the streaks on her side.
Posted by: Joe D. | February 09, 2010 at 04:46 PM
Joe.D,
the shedd aquarium will release the naming contest once puiji's calf pass more of his major milestones. It will be soon Joe!!
Posted by: faith | February 10, 2010 at 03:42 PM
Wow, you know some things I don't about Shedd. First an earthquake and now people knowing things I dont about the Shedd, oh, what next?!
Posted by: Joe D. | February 10, 2010 at 06:30 PM
Shedd (namely Mr. Ted A. Beattie and Ken Ramirez),
is it possible for you to create a beluga cam?? I really wanna see your whales when I'm not at Shedd (which I'm rarely not at)!
Posted by: Joe D. | February 10, 2010 at 07:13 PM
Cant wait till people name the little male!!!
and Joe.D, you dont have to act all "I know everything"
Posted by: brittney | February 12, 2010 at 04:08 PM
I'm glad to see the baby is doing great . He's really spoiled getting three girls to nurse from. I was wondering if the female squirting milk for the baby is true. I've always heard that cetaceans squirt milk into the calves mouth but a trainer at SeaWorld told me that that is actually a myth, that cetaceans have to suckle for their milk like other mammals... so I'm confused. Who's right? BTW- I agree with Brittney, Joe - being a know it all constantly gets really annoying.
Posted by: Alyssa | February 13, 2010 at 06:49 AM
i recently visited the shedd and purchased for 500 dollars the beluga whale encounter and and was less than satisfied not by the whale but the misleading information FOR THOSE ABOUT TO PURCHASE THE ENCOUNTER LET ME TELL YOU SINCE THE STAFF AND ALL THE INFO THAT SHEDD PUTS OUT THERE DOESNT,IT IS A GROUP DEAL YOU WILL NOT HAVE PERSONAL TIMEWITH THE WHALE, YOU WILL BE WITH OTHERS AND YOUR TIME WITH THE WHALE IS SHORTER THAN YOUR LEAD TO BELIEVE.THIS IS HONESTY AND IT HAPPENENED ON MY WIFE'S BIRTHDAY AND WOULD I RECOMMEND IT ??? NOT SO MUCH
Posted by: ANDREW | February 15, 2010 at 08:21 PM
We are sooo proud of shedd doing such a wonderful job with this baby and mama. Baby is looking great. Congrats Shedd!
Posted by: Tanaire krystal and dany fernandez | February 16, 2010 at 04:32 PM
The beluga cam is a great idea and I ask also!
Posted by: Kris | February 16, 2010 at 05:10 PM
Shedd Aquarium’s beluga encounter provides a one of a kind opportunity to meet a beluga whale. For more information, go to http://www.sheddaquarium.org/premium_experiences.html Check out reviews of the program too at http://interactive.sheddaquarium.org/2009/07/scratch-a-belugas-tongue.html
Posted by: Caroline Monestero, web editor | February 17, 2010 at 04:33 PM
I got to see the baby on Valentines day. He is doing so good. I watched the Fantasea show when I visited Chicago. His trainer is doing a wonderful job. He is already doing some of the behaviors to the trainers
signals. The show was wonderful. I'm so glad I was able to see him while I was there.
Posted by: danielle | February 17, 2010 at 04:47 PM
YEA!! the beluga cam is a really good idea, i think.
Posted by: faith | February 17, 2010 at 06:49 PM
Danielle- the baby belugas you saw in the show were Miki and/or Bella. The newest beluga isn't in the show yet.
Posted by: Alyssa | February 18, 2010 at 10:27 AM
Shedd, I REALLY think you should get a beluga cam! I'm tired of watching Vancouver's belugas!!
Posted by: Joe D. | February 20, 2010 at 01:13 PM
I heard that whale milk is the consistency of toothpaste, is this true? It sure doesn't seem like it if it's only 24%(?) butterfat.
Posted by: Joe D. | February 20, 2010 at 01:20 PM
When will there be another beluga calf update and when can the public name the calf? and can anybody name him or specific people
Posted by: JOHNNY | February 21, 2010 at 08:15 PM
Johnny - Thanks for your interest in our baby beluga! Stay tuned to the blog - we'll let you know about naming as the baby continues to pass more of his major milestones.
Posted by: Caroline Monestero, web editor | February 23, 2010 at 03:29 PM
thank you shedd!!!
Posted by: JOHNNY | February 23, 2010 at 05:50 PM
OMG THERES A BELUGA CAM IN VANCOUVER!????
Posted by: faith | February 23, 2010 at 05:52 PM
A beluga cam would be cool and beluga whale milk is actually around 28% fat so it is supposed to be near the consistency of cottage cheese/toothpaste. When I've seen whale milk it looked like grainy cow milk. Maybe it kind of falls apart once in the water.
Posted by: Alyssa | February 23, 2010 at 09:44 PM
Yes, faith, just go to http://www.vanaqua.org/belugacam. :D
Posted by: Joe D. | February 25, 2010 at 08:12 PM
what are more of the milestones Puiji's calf need to pass now that he is almost 11 weeks old??
Posted by: faith | February 26, 2010 at 08:26 PM
I'm with you, faith. What kind of milestones does the calf need to pass now that he is 11 weeks old (happy birthday baby, happy birthday baby! happy birthday Puiji's calf! happy birthday baby!)?!? SeaWorld started their contest when the calf was six weeks old (information via http://www.seaworldsanantonioblog.com ) !!!
I REALLY WANT THAT BELUGA CAM!!!!!
Good luck,
Joe. D.
Posted by: Joe D. | March 01, 2010 at 05:11 PM