July 08, 2010
Ken Ramirez, Executive VP of Animal Collections and Training, discussing Shedd's involvment in Gulf wildlife rescue efforts on FOX Chicago.
Read more about Shedd's involvment in the Gulf wildlife rescue.
Posted by Joe Kantor, web editor
March 12, 2010
Check out Shedd's newest commercial featuring the beluga calf.
Posted by Joe Kantor, web editor
February 07, 2010
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
January 19, 2010
Footage of the beluga calf "piggybacking" with Naya and Puiji.
Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor
January 15, 2010
Chicago Blackhawks Troy Brouwer and Colin Fraser and four lucky contest winners enjoy a Shedd beluga encounter.
Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor
December 25, 2009
Santa visit Shedd's sea otters.
Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor
December 21, 2009
UPDATE Dec. 22: Shedd Aquarium is deeply saddened to announce the loss of the beluga whale calf born Sunday afternoon to 20-year-old Naya. Puiji’s calf, born on Monday, December 14, continues to progress well through his bonding and nursing milestones. Read more.
At 2:25 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20, one of Shedd Aquarium’s beluga whales, Naya, successfully gave birth to a male calf, with physical assistance from Shedd’s animal health and animal care experts. It is the first time a beluga whale calf has been successfully birthed with human assistance at Shedd, and only the fourth known in the zoo and aquarium community.
December 15, 2009
At 6:36 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 14, we welcomed Puiji’s calf into the Shedd family. Mom and calf are doing well.
When Puiji’s behavior changed Sunday, Ken Ramirez, Shedd’s senior vice president of animal collections and training decided to spend the night at the aquarium, joining marine mammals staffers already observing Puiji in Secluded Bay. Around 11:30 p.m., the 23-year-old whale went into labor, at intervals crunching her nearly 11-foot frame to move the process along.
November 10, 2009
The reviews are in and Fantasea is a "must sea!" Check out reviews in The Chicago Tribune, Southtown Star and WBBM radio.
Check out this video introducing the cast of Shedd's new aquatic show.
Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor
October 16, 2009
Here's a look back at the renovation of the reimagined Oceanarium. Thanks for supporting Shedd and visit us soon!
Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor
