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
At first I thought the whales didn't have names! And, give my heart out to Kayavak. Her dad died a week ago Friday. Both parents dead, beaten by the other whales, still has some gashes in her side the last time I saw her, boy oh boy, Kayavak leads a rough life. :( (turn your head sideways)
Posted by: Joe D. | March 02, 2010 at 07:55 AM
Yes, we too were saddened by the loss of Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration’s beluga whale named Inuk. He was Kayavak’s father and lived with our beluga whales while they were visiting temporarily last year during our renovation of the Oceanarium. However, Inuk died of complications with his liver and advanced age, not from issues involving other beluga whales. It is important to remember that Kayavak is now over 10 years old and would not normally have any interaction with either parent at this age and thus not feel the loss of either parent.
Kayavak’s role within our beluga whale’s social group is quite significant and hardly rough at all. Belugas do have delicate skin that show off scrapes and cuts quite easily, but our belugas have far fewer cuts and abrasions than most animals in the wild. Animal care and safety is a top priority for us at Shedd and none of our belugas have significant cuts or lesions at this time.
Posted by: Caroline Monestero, web editor | March 02, 2010 at 04:57 PM
I don't know what you are talking about Joe. Kayavak is like the princess of Shedd Aquarium. She was hand raised by people and now hangs out with the other subadult belugas at Shedd. She doesn't get into fights. And PLEASE stop asking about the naming contest. Its very annoying are you 10?? When and if Shedd wants to do a naming contest you will hear about it. They have told you this on another post already.
Posted by: Alyssa | March 02, 2010 at 05:46 PM
I understand perfectly, Carolina. I hallucinate a lot and sometimes see gashes in my own skin. And, I only NOW learned of Qannik's passing at Point Defiance a year ago! I'm so sorry to hear for this significant loss. Give Mauyak a great big hug and kiss for me, and tell her that I am sorry to hear about her son's passing. Two questions remain on my mind: 1)Do female beluga calves stay with their moms their entire lives, like elephants? 2)What aquarium will Miki be sent to?
Those are things I've been pondering for a little over a year now. I've never gotten a chance to ask until now.
Thank you again, Mrs. Monestero. Again, give Kayavak a great big hug for me as well. She's had a rough life.
Well, my time is running out on the comp., I've got to head to school. Thanks so much,
Joe D.
Posted by: Joe D. | March 03, 2010 at 07:00 AM
OMG!! THE CALF IS SO BIG!!!! the naming contest will come soon right? and Joe D, shedd aquarium will make a beluga cam if they feel like they need one so you can stop asking it, its been in like a lot of comments.
Posted by: brittney | March 04, 2010 at 08:31 PM
Is puiji's calf introduced to Bella, Miki, Kayavak, and Naluark yet?
Posted by: brittney | March 04, 2010 at 08:50 PM
I had my encounter today! Puiji can really spit, I was shot about 3 feet back! Does anybody else taste pretzels and fish?
Posted by: Joe D. | March 06, 2010 at 02:17 PM
brittney, I can feel your interest! I got to get up-close-and-personal with Puiji and calf today in my encounter. He has a lot of rings on his head, I said to the trainer, "Hey, I didn't know you guys had seals here!" Anyway, she said the calf has only been intro'd to Naya and Mauyak. Next, most likely it will be Kayavak, the lowest in the pecking order of Shedd's Beluga pod. She also said that it is hard deciding who the calf should meet, as there are three other calves in the pod right now. It was easy for Bella's intros, there was only one other calf on the block. Probably Miki will be the first calf to be intro'd, as Bella probably doesn't know she's a big sister yet. Thanks so much for your interest in the baby beluga! We hope to see more updates in the coming days, weeks and months.
Posted by: Joe D. | March 06, 2010 at 02:22 PM
aw Joe.D you are so lucky to be interacting with mommy and the baby!! I bet he was so cute!! Isn't the calf a little too small for beluga encounters??
Posted by: faith | March 08, 2010 at 06:24 PM
Was Naluark here when Inuk was here? Was there ever any rivalry? Or did they not get intro'd?
Posted by: Joe D. | March 09, 2010 at 07:53 AM
We didn't interact with him, he was nursing from mom and Naya (we were working with her, too). I was really upset but downset when Puiji spit at me!
Posted by: Joe D. | March 12, 2010 at 06:47 PM
how do beluga calves nurse at such a young age? I mean when we nurse, our parents have to help us a lot but beluga calves seem to know how to do that at birth! That is just so amazing.
Posted by: Jenny Mclenn | March 19, 2010 at 08:57 PM