Beluga Calf Update - Next step, he gets a name!
If you haven’t visited the beluga calf in more than a few weeks, you will be amazed at his progress. He’s more than 6 feet long and weighs about 400 pounds. In fact, he has traded his fetal folds for rolls of baby blubber. He’s big enough to actively play with Bella, 3½ (and the calf’s full sister), and (half-brother) Miki, 2½. He even barges in on their games. The other day, the trainers placed a huge knotted nautical rope in Secluded Bay for the whales to play with. Bella and Miki were doing headstands on the bottom as they jostled to grab the end of the rope in their mouths. The calf used his head, literally, to push the big rope away from both of them. Did I see him crack a smile?
Another sign that the calf has matured enough to be a part of everyday activities in the beluga group is that he’s been assigned a shape. You see the trainers use these hand-held shapes during training sessions and the show to call the belugas and dolphins to their stations. The calf already recognizes his dark gray arrow-shaped rectangle with a triangle at the end, and he readily swims to it and touches it. Last week he also began touching and following a target – a small buoy on a handle that an animal focuses on during training sessions. "Right now all of this is play, not formal training," says Ken Ramirez, executive vice president, animal programs and training. But when these early interactions with the trainers are fun, the transition to training will be easy for the calf. Many of his rewards are tactile, such as pats on the melon or gentle spritzes from a water bottle, and the calf absolutely loves to have his tongue tickled. Again, getting him accustomed to being touched sets the stage for him to participate in, and enjoy, his day-to-day wellness checks.
Another reward, sometimes handed out at the end of a play session, is a fish. He loves these slippery-slidey toys, and when he gets one, he immediately swims off to play with it for 20 to 30 minutes—which is why the trainers save this treat for last. "The fish has disappeared several times," says Ken, "so we believe he swallowed and ate it." At this point, the calf swallows fish unintentionally. But this is an introduction to solid food. While he’ll probably nurse for another year, sometime between his sixth and ninth month he will begin to think fish are pretty good to eat as well as play with.
The calf will make incredible strides in the next months—and he’ll get a name! Shedd Aquarium is delighted to partner with ABC 7 and the Daily Herald to present the online beluga calf naming opportunity. Visit the calf, look for his personality traits, and then vote for the name that you think fits him best. But hurry—you only have until June 6!
Posted by Karen Furnweger, web editor
See previous beluga calf updates
so u technically cant suggest a name, thats really sad cause i have a good suggestion...
Posted by: jenny mclenn | May 24, 2010 at 01:37 PM
Even though you cant suggest a name. I'll suggest "Kinnu" anyways. It means "a unique gift" in Inuktituk. He is a gift of nature. pretty baby...
Posted by: faith | May 24, 2010 at 01:57 PM
I like the name BUBBLES. haha it just popped in my head but I also like KINNU. He fits perfectly with unique and gift. He was born head first and he is a gift of nature. OMG OMG THAT IS PERFECT!!
Posted by: naomi davids | May 24, 2010 at 02:15 PM
faith- Kinnu is taken by a beluga at SeaWorld San Antonio
staff- I tried to enter but it wouldn't let me. (darn) anyway, I'm bummed you can't suggest a name, I had a really good one in mind-drumroll please- Tikkaq, it means "sweet boy" in Inuktitut.
Posted by: Joe D. | May 24, 2010 at 05:10 PM
Name him Maxwhale.
Posted by: David | May 24, 2010 at 06:35 PM
yea but so is Bella at sea world san antonio...and the beluga there is Qinu not Kinnu. And they have different meanings...if you can't suggest, I voted for Kimalu but other names were great too....-sigh-
Posted by: faith | May 25, 2010 at 04:00 PM
he looks just like Bella! Little baby grew up so fast!
Posted by: Joe D. | May 27, 2010 at 07:07 AM
love the name kinnu...
Posted by: Judy | May 27, 2010 at 06:40 PM
i think that hompi or kira its a good name
Posted by: carolina | May 27, 2010 at 08:14 PM
HOW ABOUT CRICKET FOR A NAME
Posted by: JANE SCHAFER | May 28, 2010 at 01:03 PM
I definately vote for Nunavik.
Posted by: Joe D. | May 29, 2010 at 09:46 AM
I like the name KIMALU, NUNAVIK, and KINNU. I was wondering if the Shedd Aquarium can post more information and or videos on the beluga calf. I can't see him right now and I just miss him so much, like he is part of my family^^
Posted by: brittney | May 29, 2010 at 09:42 PM
i think you should name him oliver because if you take the r out of oliver it would be olive and olives are very slippery and heloves slippery fish
Posted by: anna | May 30, 2010 at 04:17 PM
changed my vote to NUNAVIK!! guess my first entry didnt go in. It says you have to be at least 18 to enter. It was a good change.
Posted by: faith | June 01, 2010 at 07:02 PM
we should name him peanut butter!
Posted by: bobbi | June 02, 2010 at 10:41 AM
I think the name should be something that little kids could pernouse that is my sugjustin. I think it should be sea star because it comes from there habbitat
Posted by: katelynn W. | June 02, 2010 at 10:56 AM
I like the name Kimalu.
Posted by: Abbey | June 02, 2010 at 11:22 PM
i think u should name him opikia because he is brave thats what i think so jasmine belardo from pasteur school
Posted by: jasmine | June 03, 2010 at 02:12 PM
How about naming the Beluga whale "STANLEY" -- Go Blackhaws! (Stanley Cup)
Posted by: Julie | June 04, 2010 at 06:43 AM
How about naming the Beluga whale "STANLEY" -- go Blackhawks! (Stanley Cup)
Posted by: Julie | June 04, 2010 at 06:46 AM
HIS NAME IS NUNAVIK!!! YAYAYAYAYA ♥♥
Posted by: naomi davids | June 14, 2010 at 03:34 PM
It's Nunavik!
Posted by: Joe D. | June 14, 2010 at 07:13 PM