I was at Marineland again on Monday (my 4th time… that $5 extra for a season’s pass is great!) and we saw that there was a new baby Beluga whale. It was born last Thursday (July 19) and seems to be doing well. They haven’t picked a name yet for it. When we were at the underwater viewing area, there were 2 people who were sitting there and were monitoring how often the baby nursed.
I’ve put some pictures up in the 20070723 Baby Beluga gallery.
I also have a short movie you can watch.
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Very cool pictures, Graham…what a video. The baby is so cute.
I probably passed you on Monday Graham, I was also there with my wife and kids and again today. They were spraying off the interlocking brick of the new topple tower ride, but it’s still not running yet.
Man, they just keep popping out baby Beluga Whales…
…but nothing ever happens with their Orca Whales. I guess that could be partially due to the fact that they have no more male ocras (at least, last I heard).
They currently have 4 Orca whales, and at least one of them is a male. There may actually be two males, as there are two whales in one tank (the younger ones) and two more whales in the other tank (the older ones who perform in the splash show).
When I was there on Monday, the male whale was trying for at least 15 minutes to find a way through the rocks/walls/barriers into the other tank where the females are. I asked one of the staff about it and he said that they keep them separated and that the male whale was “just looking for some love” (the staff words, not mine). I didn’t ask if there were any breeding plans for the Orcas.
Actually, Graham, There are no male killer whales in the park. The one whale was trying to get in to the other tank because it wanted to swim with her friends. And also, the side closest to the entrance is starting to do the splash show. And, the baby beluga is a very cute litle thing. Wonder
I just passed on the information I was told by one of the Marineland staff. He definitely told me that the one trying to get to the other side was a male. If there are no males, then the staff need some training so they don’t lie to their customers.
I’ve seen them doing some tricks in the other tank, but those whales are younger and I think they are still learning/practicing. The regular/main splash show is still with Nootka and the other whale in the other tank.
I’ve seen the show in the other tank. It wasn’t as good as the one on the far end. The younger whale, Athena, isn’t quite ready for the big jumps and Kiska, Athena’s mother, is too busy worrying (or something). I agree that the other show with Nootka and Ikaika was much better. And Graham, Kiska and Athena are both females, as said on some website I forgot the name of. And Nootka and Ikaika are also females, and a news report said that their only male killer whale died on Dec. 21, 2005. I wonder why the staff told you that there was a male. They are usually honest. Also, I wonder what the baby beluga’s name is.
That’s annoying that their own staff can’t even give me correct information.
I’ve looked online for a listing of all the whales Marineland has had. I thought ZooCheck used to have one, but I can’t find one on their site, or any others. If anyone has a link to a list, please post it.
I know where you could go. First, go to screamscape.com and scroll down till you get to MarineLand. Click, and it will say right at the top, Marineland lost their only male killer whale. Or, go to Wikipedia.com, click english, type marineland in the search bar, then click marineland park, then scroll down and it will say every single whale marineland has and their names.
wikipedia isnt the most reliable place for any information.
i know that. it just had all the names of the whales.
Just a couple bits of information…
The mother of the baby beluga is a female named Jubilee. The calf has been confirmed a female, but has not been named yet. One of the names considered for her was “Rain.” But she hasn’t officially been named.
There is one male orca at Marineland. His name is Ikaika (often called “Ike”) and he has been transferred from Seaworld Orlando, Florida on a breeding loan in exchange for three male belugas that were born at Marineland and then sent down to Florida (Aurek, Juno, and Klondike).
The other orca that is with Ikaika is Athena. She was born at the park and her mother is Kiska. Ikaika and Athena are the “youngsters” in the front pool. In the side pool are the older whales, Kiska and Nootka V both females.
Hope this helps.
Oh well, so the last time i heard about the male orcas was updated in january 2006. i didn’t actually realise ikaika was a male. I’m going back in a couple of weeks, so i’ll be sure to check it out.