Mc Richard Paglicawan
This rare footage shows the moment a 20-year old Beluga whale mom named Maris, successfully gave birth to a female calf after a 15-month pregnancy on Mother’s Day, May 10 at the Georgia Aquarium.
The calf’s tail can be seen protruding from its mother during the three-hour labor before it finally swims free on the aquarium tank. Moments after birth, Maris helped her little one rise to the surface to take a breath.
The new beluga baby weighted about 127 pound and started life just under five feet long.
According to WWF, at birth, beluga calves are usually dark gray or bluish/brownish-gray, and darken at one month. It can take one up to eight years to turn fully white, an adaptation to the endangered whale’s natural Arctic habitat.
“We couldn’t be happier, as Mother’s Day took on a new and special significance here at Georgia Aquarium!” the institution stated on its blog Monday.
Here’s the video: Beluga whale gives birth at Georgia Aquarium
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=158&v=nEzEPBBS6yk
Georgia Aquarium has cared for Maris since it opened in 2005. She is on breeding loan from the New York Aquarium, where she was born.
