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Notable Captive Beluga Deaths
These are just some beluga deaths that struck me as notable. For fuller lists, check my other beluga pages, and my sources.
Mauyak
Age: 41
Sex: Female
Captured: July 9th, 1984
Died: November 14th, 2022
Type: Hudson Bay, Canada
Calves: Qannik, 1998 calf, 2005 calf, Miki, Kimalu, Annik
Measurements: 1,500 lbs., 11ft.
Transfers
Hudson Bay, Canada: July 9th, 1984
Point Defiance Zoo, Washington, USA: July 9th, 1984
Shedd Aquarium, USA: March 16th, 1997
Mystic Aquarium, Connecticut, USA: September 3rd, 2008
Shedd Aquarium, USA: May 1st, 2009
About Mauyak
Mauyak was captured in Canada in 1984. She lived at the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Washington for thirteen years, from 1984 to 1997. In 1997, she moved to the Shedd for the first time, where she had an unsuccessful calf in 1998, then her first surviving calf, Qannik, then another unsuccessful calf in 2005. In 2007, she had her second calf, Miki, fathered by Naluark. She moved to the Mystic in 2008 for construction on the Shedd, and then back to the Shedd in 2008. After that, she had two more calves, Kimalu in 2012, by Naluark, and Annik in 2019, by Aurek.
Both Qannik and Miki were separated from Mauyak at different times, and both died soon after the transfers.
Mauyak was one of the oldest belugas in captivity at the time of her death. I worry for her surviving calves, Kimalu and Annik. Young belugas are very reliant on their mothers and they will suffer in her absence.
Nanuq
Age at death: 25
Sex: Male
Captured: August 13th, 1990
Date of Death: February 19th, 2019
Cause of Death: Infectious myositis following jaw fracture
Type: Hudson Bay, Canada
Calves: Qinu, Bella II, Crissy's Twin 2, Oliver, Grayson, Whisper's 2006 calf, Whisper's 2008 calf, Pearl, Atla, Unknown SWSD 2, Ruby's 2012 calf
Transfers
Hudson Bay, Canada: August 13th, 1990
Vancouver Aquarium, Canada: August 1990
SeaWorld San Diego, USA: July 27th, 1997
SeaWorld San Antonio, USA: February 15th, 2005
SeaWorld San Diego, USA: January 20th, 2008
SeaWorld Orlando, USA: June 1st, 2014
About Nanuq
Nanuq fathered eleven calves while in captivity. His surviving offspring are Qinu, Grayson, Oliver, and Atla. In 2019, he fractured his jaw, though it is not known how, and the fracture became infected, killing him.
Kairo
Age at Death: 26
Sex: Male
Captured: 1996
Date of Death: April 26, 2022
Cause of Death: Unknown
Type: Russian
Calves: Yulka's 2006 calf, Kylu
Transfers
Russia: 1996
Holding, Russia: 1996
Aquarium Mar Del Plata, Argentina: June 8th, 1998
L'Oceanogràfic, Spain: July 4th, 2003
About Kairo
Kairo was captured in Russia with, and lived at an Argentinian aquarium with Yulka for almost five years before moving to Spain, along with his tankmate. While in Spain, he fathered one surviving calf, with Yulka, a male calf called Kylu. Kairo died at the approximate age of 26 on April 26, 2022.
Olivia
Age: 7
Sex: Female
Captive born: June 19th, 1998
Date of Death: April 20th, 2005
Cause of Death: Severe acute cranial and cervical trauma
Mother: Martina
Father: Shadow
Type: 100% Hudson Bay
Full siblings:
Maternal siblings: Oliver, Luna
Paternal siblings: SWT-DL-9377, SWT-DL-9576
Transfers
None
About Olivia
Olivia was seven years old when she died, with horrible traumatic injuries. Just a few days before, she had been seen by park guests and been fine. I suspect that her injures were caused by an aggressive male attempting to mate with her. SeaWorld never announced further information about Olivia.
Too Too
Age: 1 month in captivity
Sex: Female
Captured: August 29th, 1972
Date of Death: September 12th, 1972
Cause of Death: Unknown
Transfers
Hudson Bay, Canada: August 29th, 1972
Seal River, Holding: August 29th, 1972
Gillis Family Backyard Pool: September 7th, 1972
SeaWorld Ohio USA: September 8th, 1972
SeaWorld San Diego, USA: September 12th, 1972
About Too Too
Too Too was captured in Hudson Bay, Manitoba. We don't know old she was when she was captured. For one day, she lived in a Canadian family's backyard pool. She lived at SeaWorld Ohio in Cleveland for four days, before she was transported to SeaWorld San Diego. She died en route.
Casper
Age: 8
Sex: Female
Captured: July 3rd, 1979
Date of Death: August 30th, 1987
Cause of Death: Dystocia, massive hematoma after surgery, birth complications
Type: Hudson Bay, Canada
Transfers
Hudson Bay, Canada: July 3rd, 1979
Holding Pool, Manitoba, Canada: July 3rd, 1979
SeaWorld San Diego, USA: July 24th, 1979
About Casper
Casper died trying to give birth to a stillborn calf. SeaWorld veterinarians tried to save her life with surgery, which is uncommon with cetaceans. She did not survive.
Skoot
Age: 1
Sex: Female
Captive born: August 25th, 2011
Date of Death: May 28th, 2012
Cause of Death: Killed by Kodiak and Orion
Mother: Skyla
Father: Possibly Andre
Type: Possibly 100% Russian
Maternal siblings: Jetta, Skyla's 2009 calf, Skyla's 2018 calf
Transfers
None
About Skoot
Skoot died when she was less than a year old. She was in a pool with Kodiak at about 10:00PM when he began to rake and bite her. Things escalated, and Orion joined them in the pool. They both began to bite, chase, rake, and shake her. Her mother, Skyla, entered the scene, but couldn't do anything for her. Kodiak and Orion hunted her to exhaustion.
#4 and #6 Shedd Belugas
Age: #1: 40 days, #2: 38 days
Sex: #1 Female, #2 Male
Captured: August 13th and 14th 1992
Type: Hudson Bay, Canada
Transfers
Hudson Bay, Canada: August 13th and 14th, 1992
Shedd Aquarium: August 18th, 1992
About #4 and #6 Shedd Beluga
#4 and #6 were two unnamed belugas who lived at the Shedd Aquarium. The Shedd was attempting to cure their heartworm but misdosed them. Both died of a lethal overdose of deworming medication.
Tanya
Age: >20
Date of Death: April 10, 2022
Sex: Female
Captured: ~2001
Type: Russian
Calves: Nana
Transfers
Russia: Unknown
Holding, Russia: Unknown
Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, Japan: April 18th, 2001
About Tanya
Like the other belugas in Nagoya, Tanya was a Russian capture. She gave birth to Nana, by Khudoy. Tanya's death was announced several months after it occurred by the aquarium.
Khudoy
Age: >20
Date of Death: May 5th, 2022
Sex: Male
Captured: Sometime before 2001
Type: Russian
Calves: Nana, Mirai, #8, White's 2010 calf
Transfers
Russia: Unknown
Holding, Russia: Unknown
Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, Japan: April 18th, 2001
About Khudoy
Khudoy was captured sometime before 2001 in Russia before being moved to Japan. He fathered four calves whilst in captivity, two of whom survive. Like Tanya, his death was announced several months after it happened.