Mauyak, who arrived at Shedd in 1997 from the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Wash., was born in western Hudson Bay, near Churchill, Manitoba, most likely in 1981.While she’s our oldest whale, she is by no means elderly. Playful and athletic, she occasionally executes elegant arcing leaps during Fantasea—not as high as the dolphins, for sure, but mighty surprising the first time you see a beluga airborne. Mauyak is the mom of August birthday boy Miki.

Miki turns 3 on Aug. 16. He’s the best friend of Bella (see July’s birthdays) and although he’s a year younger than her, he’s the same length and noticeably heavier.

Our fourth birthday beluga is Kayavak, born Aug. 3, 1999, to one of our original whales, Immiayuk. Kayavak is another regular in the Fantasea show. She was our first successful beluga birth, and we’re especially proud of this 1,000-pound adolescent because she was raised by the trainers from the age of 5 months, when she was orphaned. (We’re very proud of our trainers, too, who worked around the clock to care for the calf.) Read about Kayavak’s amazing first year and click on the link to an animated children’s book about her.

Our blog photo shows Ken Ramirez and Lisa Takaki during a training session last fall with (front to back) Bella and birthday belugas Kayavak and Naluark.

Ohana, a Pacific white-sided dolphin, celebrates her fourth birthday on Aug. 12. She’s the smallest of the dolphins you see in Fantasea. She throws her all into everything, doing tail slaps double time and putting a little fluke kick into her leaps. Ohana is visiting Shedd from the Miami Seaquarium.

Be sure to visit during August to wish all five happy birthdays.

Posted by Karen Furnweger, web editor