Pacific White Sided Dolphin Katrl is expecting a calf in the late spring the Shedd announced yesterday, Jan 25, 2016. No mention of Munchkin or a possible pregnancy. I am surprised we haven't heard of a beluga pregnancy yet. Seems Beethoven should have been getting that job done by now!
I wouldn't be surprised if one or more of the belugas are pregnant, and they are just waiting to announce it until the female(s) are further along in their pregnancies, or alternately they'll just wait until the calf is actually born (granted shedd is usually fairly open about pregnancies, but you never know)
They can detect them fairly early on thanks to swings in different hormones detectable in urine and blood samples. However, most belugas tend to give birth in the mid-late summer (June to August), so most beluga pregnancies are just slightly over half way through this time of year.
Lots of beluga changes for the US captive population: *Maple and Aurek and were moved to Georgia aquarium *Grayson was moved to Shedd *Nunavik was moved from Shedd to Georgia Aquarium *Miki was moved from Shedd to Mystic. *Nuluark moved from Mystic to Orlando
I had a wonderful visit today and as usual, by tomorrow if will have a full species list that are within every attraction up.
Pacific white-side dolphin baby is a boy : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxy6g2O55Sk&feature=youtu.be
And in a complete blowout, their new dolphin calve has been given the heinous name "Kukdlaa", although the other proposed names, Taashuka, Katnaanu, Kusti, and Lekwaa, are all equally as repulsive.
you don't speak Tlingit? It means "Bubbles" Shedd's new dolphin calf christened Kukdlaa (it means 'Bubbles') | Chicago Sun-Times Here are the other names and their meanings: http://www.sheddaquarium.org/About-...quarium-Hosts-Kids-Vote-to-Name-Dolphin-Calf/
Those names are not repulsive, they indicate a connection to a shared indigenous culture, the Tlingit. Perhaps, it would be worthwhile to delve a little more into recent local history and get some much needed educational bagage about an endangered local culture.
Mourning the Loss of Beloved Beluga Whale Miki | Shedd Aquarium Miki the beluga whale has passed away . The beluga population has taken some hits lately...
The Shedd aquarium is currently caring for 90 giant Thai catfish, impounded at Chicago's O'Hare airport by USFWS. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10154192270057843
I assume these to be the Mekong giant catfish, Pangasianodon gigas. The species is of course critically endangered species of catfish (order Siluriformes) in the shark catfish family (Pangasiidae) and native to the Mekong basin in Southeast Asia and adjacent China. Incidentally and perversely: if you do a search on the Internet on giant Thai catfish the first things that come up are culinary ... and recipes how to do them in!?! Bizarre ...., whilst they are fully protected under Law!
According to the aquarium's article, they are Pangasius sanitwongsei. Giant catfish confiscation underscores need for new law | Shedd Aquarium
Still a critically endangered species. On the one hand, terrible news that someone attempted this smuggling. On the other hand, the article makes it sound like this will be the beginning of a captive breeding program, which could ultimately be of benefit to the species.
