Beluga whale (question)
Posted by borgircrossancola@reddit | whales | View on Reddit | 89 comments
What are the thoughts on captivity for cetaceans for reasons of study? For example, this one of the five Beluga whales kept in the Mystic Aquarium. Some are juveniles and there’s one large male.
The whales here aren’t used for tricks like SeaWorld but are (atleast claimed) to be housed for study, which is true AFAIK. But is this true? The animals seem (to my untrained eyes) to be treated well. They aren’t forced to do tricks other than ones for stimulation.
If it was under my control, no cetaceans would be kept in these captive situations, but is this form of captivity better than something like Marineland or SeaWorld?
Ive been to SeaWorld Orlando once and I could just tell they were abused but I don’t see the same with the Mystic belugas.
Rich_Beat_4616@reddit
Super random question, but does anyone know why Beluga whales don’t get sunburned?
Mundane-Channel-1781@reddit
...? what
Apprehensive_Flan157@reddit
As a marine biologist, I think that scientific conquest is not a reasonable justification for captivity especially for marine mammals. Generic information can be taken with dtags or fecal samples. Social and behavioral information can be studied in the field and the data will be far more accurate. If the money invested in maintaining a facility were invested in active conservation that would be more helpful! Ultimately, I think the people who work with the animals probably treat them well and have a passion for the creatures. However, the fundamental principle goes against the validity of most studies anyway.
Mundane-Channel-1781@reddit
EXACTLYYY!!!!!!
obscureorca@reddit
It's immoral no matter what reason they're doing it for. These places claim to be conservationists or resarchers or whatever lie they're pushing on the public but would you like to live in a small space with little to no stimulation for the entirety of your life? If you wouldn't like it why would a whale like to live that way?
Maybe some of these places do some legit research but that isn't an excuse to hold these whales captive in tanks that are too small for them. It's abusive to the whales no matter how they sugarcoat it.
Blueshoelace_@reddit
I do agree that I think any animal in captivity should be given a larger space to live in. The way I see it, if they’re able to swim the full length of the tank multiple times a day, and I mean like dozens of times, then it definitely is too small. However, I do believe that a lot of researchers/rehabs for animals really do care for the animals. They provide the necessary meals, medications, therapies, etc. it’s the for-profit corporations that benefit from injured animals that I don’t agree with. I am a bit on the fence of whether to release rehabilitated animals back in the wild. I think to an extent they should be released, but if they would not be able to survive on their own, need assistance, or have become used to human interaction then it would be a death-sentence to release them back in the wild.
borgircrossancola@reddit (OP)
I think if there was more money placed to these facilities we would have stuff like this, depending on the place obviously. SeaWorld wouldn’t gaf but I feel like Mystic definitely would. They aren’t there for entertainment and the whole facility is more like a research and rehabilitation center that just so happens to be visited by laymen.
obscureorca@reddit
If the owners of these parks cared about the whales they would have more money to spend on them but they don't give a fuck. It's for profit. What part of capitalism don't you get? That money that could be spent on giving these whales a better quality of life is going right into the owner's pocket.
Mundane-Channel-1781@reddit
You're sabotaging your own credibility by being disrespectful. Be more like OP pls
Blueshoelace_@reddit
I totally agree. I think it’s important to bring awareness to places like Mystic and that the public’s contribution goes a long way to helping the animals, from paying the eclectic/water bill, to purchasing the necessary tools, meds, and hiring work. One of the main reasons places like this struggle is because they really don’t have snug funding. If more people were open to donating, not like thousands of dollars, but just what they could, would really help.
But I also think there should be a standard of practice for all kinds of places, like the minimum tank size and other things, to even open a sanctuary type place. That way it ensures the people that actually want to help animals are more willing to follow those standards.
obscureorca@reddit
By your logic we should all be donating money to for profit prisons to make sure the enslaved humans there are fed and receive medical care. If these places don't rake in enough money to care for these whales then maybe they shouldn't fucking have them.
Blueshoelace_@reddit
There are for-profit and non-profit sanctuaries. I’m talking about the non-profit sanctuaries.
A lot of these animals would die probably within 24-48 hours being released into the wild.
obscureorca@reddit
How do you know they would die that fast? When has a whale been released from captivity that immediately dropped dead? Even Keiko lived for years in the ocean even though the pro-cap people claim it was a failure. It was the first time it was ever tried and if they care about these whales and wanted what was truly best for them they would do the actual hard work of rehabilitating them so they can be released. For all of these years they've held them prisoner for profit they could have trained them out in the ocean to hunt while giving them round the clock care. No money would be made if they did this so of course they're not going to fucking do it. If they put in the effort it would be a successful release. This was done with the orca Springer and she did just fine and is still alive to this day and has two babies of her own.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7CQ5KuY400
Blueshoelace_@reddit
I’m thinking about all those animals we don’t hear of, those born with defects that would render them useless to themselves in the wild, those with life-threatening injuries that take a long time to heal and the therapy they need after, the animals that get so accustomed to humans they might only look for humans in the wild to get food instead of using their natural instincts to hunt for food. I do believe that many animals can be cared for and released immediately to prevent them from becoming dependent on human care, however by your logic it’s only a black and white mentality, and either or, and that’s not including all the animals that don’t meet either criteria you’re implying. There are animals that need care and a decent quality of life so they can live their life and sometimes that is within the sanctuary. I don’t believe in promoting for-profit or even private “rehabilitation centers” as they’re really only after the money. But I do support the people who actually gaf about the animals.
obscureorca@reddit
You're thinking all these captive whales are disabled like Winter the dolphin was. They're not. Even Winter was heavily exploited. That prosthetic tail they made for her was rarely used and mostly for show on public interactions. I agree she could not be released but she was heavily exploited and used for interactions with people. I watched her and the other dolphins through Clearwater Aquarium's dolphin cam. She was often bored and never seen with her tail that they made for her. I never once saw her with that tail on even though it would have helped her swim. What she did have was another dolphin, Hope I think and a mat to lounge on. No one ever gave her that prosthetic tail to help her swim better on the many weeks and hours I watched.
They often claim whales are unreleasable that they're death or some other bullshit reason like they did with Morgan the orca. Ask yourself if she's dead how can she hear the trainers whistles to do tricks for a gullible paying public?
borgircrossancola@reddit (OP)
Where do you want them to go? The wild where they would die like immediately?
obscureorca@reddit
Prove that they would die immediately when placed back in the ocean. You'll probably mention Keiko but he didn't die immediately he lived for years. What was the difference in having care givers provide for his needs in the ocean versus in a tank? The only difference is the business who owned him could no longer generate profit from selling tickets. There have been some dolphins who were released or escaped confinement and they did just fine. If they took the time to slowly rehabilitate these whales and reacclimate them to the ocean then they would be able to survive just fine especially if they are taught how to hunt and released with others of their kind. Ask yourself why no marine park does this and you'll realize you have been duped.
If they can't be released or retired then they shouldn't be breeding them or using them to generate profits either. They should make sure these whales are kept in the best conditions possible with ample amount of space, depth, stimulation and live feedings of fish since no whale in the wild eats dead fish. Since they can't possibly do that they shouldn't be capturing, transferring or breeding whales or doing business with any place that does.
obscureorca@reddit
Show me the research they're doing that's so valuable then. There's not a single dolphinarium on the planet that has done anything at all to bring wild whale populations up instead of down.
borgircrossancola@reddit (OP)
Ask the biologist that commented above, they’re more authoritative on the subject that I am
Wildlife_Jack@reddit
I don't know why you're posting to ask for opinions when your mind is clearly made up. You're fighting everyone who doesn't agree with you on this thread.
borgircrossancola@reddit (OP)
Im not fighting, this is discussion and im learning more through this.
obscureorca@reddit
Lol mystic aquarium is a for profit business though.
If they have to be kept captive they should have their needs met like any other animal but that's just not the case.
Bretters17@reddit
Right because it doesn't cost a cent to pay the staff or the bills.
obscureorca@reddit
You are a 🤡 if you think the money is all going to pay staff and bills lol
borgircrossancola@reddit (OP)
Mystic is a non-profit organization or atleast they claim that
obscureorca@reddit
I could claim to be a flying purple people eater but it doesn't make me one.
This nonprofit excuse is just a way for them to pay less taxes and it is a scam. Nonprofits do make money.
https://crscpa.com/blog/how-much-profit-can-a-nonprofit-make-or-when-tax-exempt-really-isnt/#:\~:text=So%2C%20yes%2C%20501(c,those%20profits%20are%20tax%2Dexempt.
borgircrossancola@reddit (OP)
I don’t believe it’s a lie in this case, they’ve done some genuine research and learned a lot of stuff about wild belugas through the ones they keep. None are wild caught either afaik, so I think the best place a captive born beluga can live (other than a sea-pen) has to be the Mystic Aquarium. At the very least, they aren’t breeding a bunch of whales and selling them to use as entertainment like Loro Parque or SeaWorld.
Whal3r@reddit
Mystic is breeding whales, that’s why they’ve gotten so many new ones. Last time I went it was just the young male and two older females that wanted nothing to do with him. You could tell he was bored in that incredibly small tank and now they’ve introduced younger females to try and breed. They are not trying to breed to reintroduce them to the wild, as we all know that’s not a possibility.
I’ve worked at AZA zoos and aquariums and I’ve worked studying wild humpback whales. I am not totally against zoos, I do think they do incredible work (like mystic and New England aquarium rehab programs), but cetaceans in captivity are a hard no for me. Some animals do fine in captivity but whales are too smart, and require more space than any zoo or aquarium is able to give. Lastly, everyone keeps mentioning how important the ‘research’ is.. there are no humpbacks in captivity yet we know a lot about them. Mostly from necropsy of stranded whales and field research. Zoo research is not essential for our understanding of these animals.
lameusernamesrock@reddit
This is one of the best points I’ve seen being made. There are tons of creatures that we know a lot about that we don’t have in captivity. We are still able to study marine animals without sticking them in tiny little tanks of water!
obscureorca@reddit
They aren't live fed because live fish cost more money and if the public sees these whales catching their own food they'll start asking questions about why these whales aren't being released since they're quite capable of taking care of themselves.
FayMax69@reddit
I wholeheartedly agree with you! It’s morally and ethically wrong NO MATTER THE REASON. The science that they claim is beneficial is a lie. The shortcuts they take to receive funding at universities. These animals are treated worse than dog 💩 and these scientists will lie through their teeth to give the image that what they’re doing is ethical. Nothing can justify what they do! They’re sick and greedy, and truly lack any moral compass and do not expect any ethical conduct from these clowns.
obscureorca@reddit
It's nice to know someone agrees with me. There is no justification for this.
ginger7688@reddit
Sorry for the long winded response already. This topic gets me all fired up.
So Mystic is an AZA accredited facility. A lot of what they do is in fact research based.
I’ve been to the mystic facility and had the chance to go behind the scenes when they only housed two Belugas.
A couple of years ago, five belugas were sent to mystic because they were being held at some whack job MarineLand in Canada, that is nothing more than an amusement park. The week they were moved, all five were found to be in distress due to poor water quality, among other reasons. I think three have since died?
Is Mystic better than MarineLand, yes. It’s sort of the lesser of two evils. Unfortunately with belugas, especially those who have grown around/ trained with/ been fed by humans, they can’t just be released back into the wild without repercussions.
Take for example, Hvaldimir, a male Beluga found in Norwegian waters in 2019 wearing a camera harness. The harness was removed, but he continued to seek out boats, human interaction, asking to be fed, and playing fetch etc. He eventually learned to forage for his own food, but in 2023 he was seen with an injury from propellers, (likely from the behavior mentioned above).
There is currently a research/ rehabilitation effort off of Iceland with two belugas that were previously in captivity in China. The two are housed in a sea side sanctuary, but are still heavily dependent on humans and have a whole team of vets and experts.
Here is a link if you’re interested!
https://belugasanctuary.sealifetrust.org/en/the-beluga-whales-1/
lameusernamesrock@reddit
I think I might rather see every single whale in captivity die, and just no new ones put into captivity. I mean, just stop breeding them. I get that some just can’t be released anymore. That they won’t be able to survive on their own.
Mundane-Channel-1781@reddit
Not the best way to phrase it, but u have a point. If captive animals wont be able to survive on their own, i'd rather take that risk with as much precautions as possible rather than keep them there where they will be forced to breed even more circus animals
akbelugababe@reddit
I’m a biologist working with wild beluga populations in Alaska and here is my take on captivity:
• On a fundamental level, I think it’s wrong that we remove animals from their wild homes to put them in captivity, especially in the case of cetaceans as we know they have such tight knit bonds with other members of their pods.
However, from a scientific perspective:
• Captive belugas provide invaluable scientific knowledge to researchers and wildlife response teams working with wild populations. For example, without the expertise of husbandry teams from Mystic, Shedd, and Georgia Aquariums, Tyonek (the stranded and rescued beluga calf from the critically endangered Cook Inlet population) wouldn’t have had such a successful outcome.
Additionally:
• Mystic, SeaWorld, and many other aquaria in the U.S. are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This accreditation is voluntary and it means that these facilities have to follow more rigorous standards for animal welfare, care, and management than what is legally required by the USDA. I’ve spent some time volunteering with the veterinary team at an AZA accredited aquarium and I can assure you, from the smallest fish to the largest marine mammals, the critters at AZA facilities are receiving far better healthcare than you or I ever will.
• Depending on the facility, I don’t think it’s unethical to participate in beluga encounters or “trick” shows. Not only are those great sources of enrichment for the whales, but the money made goes right back into their upkeep. Additionally, many aquaria (SeaWorld especially) donate substantial amounts of money to support research and conservation efforts of wild populations.
So overall, I’m not saying captivity is perfect - there are problems for sure. But I think the positive work that is being done in aquaria is often overlooked and deserves more awareness.
FayMax69@reddit
The same sea world where Tilikum was held captive? The same sea world that treats animals as either an asset or a liability?? The same sea world that entertains brain dead humans with their live animal shows??? You have some nerve advocating for them! Animals for human entertainment is WRONG! We should take you away from our family and lock you up in a tiny tiny little cage, and then see if you’d still come here with this absolute garbage of an opinion of yours, especially given that it comes from. Marine biologist, you sound like a hack that’s been paid off..gtfo
borgircrossancola@reddit (OP)
I hate SeaWorld too but it you have to admit they do pay a bunch of money into marine research. Hell, right now they are keeping a Cook Inlet beluga which is super endangered and they did, technically, same it’s life. There wouldn’t be nearly as much money into cetacean research without them, they pool in a lot of it.
I do agree with you that it’s morally wrong.
FayMax69@reddit
Oh boy, you’re clueless if you think that it makes it ok because they pay crumbs to marine research which is probably a tax write off..when infact it’s about what the CEO’s are earning, and you think because of those crumbs, that that makes the captivity and exploitation and animals for human entertainment act all alright. Get a backbone! Like seriously!!
borgircrossancola@reddit (OP)
Did you not read what I said or are you looking for an argument? I don’t think it’s ok and if I was in charge SeaWorld would’ve been shut down decades ago. It’s still a fact that pool in boatloads of money into the field.
FayMax69@reddit
I read what you said, you need to read what you said…
borgircrossancola@reddit (OP)
I just explained what I meant, if you wanna read your own stuff into what I said that’s your business.
biochemicalcascade@reddit
That’s also the nature of communication; your impact matters as much as your intentions. I think your position is made, but lacking, and you’re not even discussing the same things at the end of the day. The defensiveness is a 5.5 out of 10, the “friend” thing is passive aggressive.
borgircrossancola@reddit (OP)
I don’t think the friend thing is passive aggressive, I genuinely see people as friends haha, but I can see how some would use it like that
biochemicalcascade@reddit
Fair enough. It’s cool that we can hash that out on Reddit, because in real life, we’d only have space for the inevitable collision. Here, we can more readily stop and pause to consider the other side. Thank u for sharing.
Mundane-Channel-1781@reddit
now thats passive aggressive
obscureorca@reddit
People like them want opinions but only if they agree with them so they can feel better about spending money there. They don't want to do their research.
lameusernamesrock@reddit
That money they pay for marine research? Basically marketing.
obscureorca@reddit
That baby beluga was doomed the minute it stands so it could be exploited. It is doomed for a life of torture and forced breeding.
Did you know Sea World collects sperm from dead belugas that the Inuit hunt? They have only stopped breeding orcas but they still force belugas and dolphins to breed and they do so until the day they die. They need sperm from dead whales because the captive bred ones they have are too closely related and will be inbred.
https://cetaceaninspiration.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/5-disturbing-facts-about-seaworlds-captive-breeding-program/
borgircrossancola@reddit (OP)
Oh yeah ik abt it, it’s gross and evil
obscureorca@reddit
It is and I hope you're better informed now. I admit I visit these places on occasion but I do so for the purpose of seeing how the whales are doing so I can share it with the public. It's not a fun thing I usually leave in tears. Someone needs to keep an eye on them and show others how they're doing. Like just from looking at this beluga you posted I don't know the individuals name but he or she looks awfully skinny. That's not a good sign. Whales often won't eat when they are stressed or sick. If you must visit these places please take as much evidence as you can so you can share with others to show what condition the whales are in.
obscureorca@reddit
I find it funny that this so called biologist refuses to answer the very valid questions I asked. What are they afraid of?
Paid shill is what they are.
aheaney15@reddit
Decades ago.
Prove that this baseless claim is true today. Just because you disagree with them having Orcas, doesn’t mean that they treat them like a liability. There is no credible evidence of SeaWorld doing this today. Plus, their reacue and rehab program is the best on the planet.
This is a straw man fallacy. While I, a marine conservationist who has had some past experience with captive animals, do not advocate for the shows, a lot of the shows as of the past fifteen years have had an educational side to them, plus as the person said, it had been proven to be great enrichment to them. That said, I don’t advocate for the shows, nor do I advocate for captive cetaceans outside of a rescue and rehab program.
You have even more nerve saying this entire childish comment to someone who CLEARLY is more educated and experienced than you ever were.
This is a childish, toxic, extremely stupid part of your comment and I’m appalled that anyone would agree with this. You should be ashamed for writing this garbage.
He’s not paid off anymore than you or I am. He is clearly more educated than you. You’re like an emotional middle schooler trying to educate an undergrad here.
FayMax69@reddit
You must be republican because you came with the most daft, blind comment ever. Selfishly thinking that anyone is entitled to keep those animals imprisoned so that your pea brain can be entertained. Grow up 🤡
aheaney15@reddit
Thanks for this lovely comment, and as a marine conservationist, I agree with the vast majority of it.
That said, I do not advocate for cetaceans being held captive outside of rescue and rehab programs.
lameusernamesrock@reddit
One of the most depressing things I have ever seen is a mother gorilla nursing her baby in a zoo.
bakedveldtland@reddit
Thank you for saying this. I’m a grad student studying a wild bottlenose dolphin population. I was volunteering with FWC not too long ago- we were trying to locate a bottlenose dolphin calf that was entangled in fishing line. SeaWorld was out there with us. They don’t just contribute financially. They are out there, doing the work.
I also worked as a zookeeper for years. We would get produce for our animals that was better quality than the produce I see at the grocery store. They got the best healthcare that money could buy. We frequently held meetings in which we discussed how we could improve welfare and enrichment.
I’ve also trained a large variety of species, including marine mammals. Almost every single animal that I worked with loved, absolutely loved, training sessions. I worked with some animals that would train even if food wasn’t involved (although, of course- food was always involved 🥰).
I have struggled with the idea of animals, particularly cetaceans, being in managed care. I don’t think it’s appropriate for all species. But animals that are born in zoos and aquariums generally can’t be released back into the wild, and those that are (such as scimitar horned oryx) have huge teams working behind the scenes to ensure a successful reintroduction program.
I’m happy that I have returned to working with wild animal populations- I really enjoy research. But I continue to have a lot of respect for the hardworking folks in zoos and aquariums. They spoil the animals, support conservation efforts, and educate people about wildlife. I think it’s really important work.
Side note- you have my dream job, I’d die to study beluga whales!!
CauliflowerKey5088@reddit
Could you consider the possibility that you’ve somehow supposed that the cetaceans were expressing joy during training when it could have been a merely a consequence of being starved overnight of any stimuli (and maybe food), from the minute aquarium staff get to clock out from work?
I often wonder what happens to these intelligent and emotional beings after business hours while their human keepers get to go home and live freely. Since they’re left to their own devices and unable to hunt, travel and socialize on their own terms as they would in the wild, do they just swim around all night in their little barren pools that are significantly smaller and less exciting than their vast ocean habitat?
bakedveldtland@reddit
I think it depends on the facility but when I worked with dolphins, they had a naturalistic exhibit with a wave function that went on and off sporadically. We got there when it was still dark out and often left well after it was dark. Throughout the day we had a wide variety of training, interaction, and enrichment sessions. We certainly did not starve animals, that’s an outdated practice (and I began working with them over 15 years ago, so I’m talking super outdated). Frankly, I think they appreciated the quiet time.
Do you have pets at home that are excited to see you in the morning? Because I do.
Also- is joy something that an animal experiences? I have no answer for that. Excitement, yes. Interest, absolutely. Stimulation, for sure. Joy? Interesting question. I’m not discounting it, to be clear, but it’s not something I have ever considered because that’s an anthropomorphic word IMO and historically, people that work with animals are cautioned against using anthropomorphism. That’s changing, which I think is a positive thing. But there also is no question that animals and humans have different ways of processing the world, and I would imagine that this carries over to emotions.
lameusernamesrock@reddit
Naturalistic? Nihilistic is more like it.
Marlee013@reddit
I visited a zoo in Attleboro mass called the capron zoo. It's AZA accredited, however every single animal was sick/stressed looking, walking the same path over and over again, pushing their head into the same rock over and over again, everything looked pretty bad. I was so sad to see this and even more sad to see it being supported by the AZA. do you have any thoughts on the AZAs criteria for things like this? I'm just curious because I want to only visit accredited facilities but after my experience here I'm doubting even that. Thanks
obscureorca@reddit
What value is there in the research being done on these belugas that is going to help wild populations that you're studying right now? Why don't these aquariums do more to help protect the whale's environment in the ocean and bring their numbers up? Why don't they protect the whale's prey from being overfished and their environment poisoned with plastic and other pollutants?
Because there's no money in it. That's why.
borgircrossancola@reddit (OP)
Mystic atleast claims to do everything you just mentioned. They directly clean up pollution, they preform necropsies on whales to study why they died and how pollution could affect them, they also produce invaluable knowledge like how their reproductive system works, immune capablities, behavior, and a lot more. All of this information directly helps the wild populations since we need to understand the whales so we can effectively help them. They advocate for sustainable fish consumption (so does the Maritime aquarium which doesn’t have any cetaceans)
obscureorca@reddit
Claiming to do something and actually doing it are two different things. Most of the things you listed are government run and isn't some charity work being done by this aquarium. I'm looking on mystic's website right now and I'm not seeing anything but like one picture of them picking up garbage on a beach. Where's the evidence of them doing actual research though like show me the research papers.
And even then it isn't enough because if even one beluga in their care is suffering from zoochosis then they have failed to protect animals.
biochemicalcascade@reddit
Idk who got mad and downvoted you, but you definitely put someone in their fucking feels with the truth.
For them: Sucks to suck, I guess. Losers. 🥴
Wouldn’t know how that feels lol, but I love this post and that you called out the absolute bullshit.
Intentions vs. Impact, people: it matters 🤯
obscureorca@reddit
Still waiting for you answer my questions, Mr. biologist!
akbelugababe@reddit
Hey, I see your questions and you have reasonable concerns. My preference is to digest these different perspectives and write thoughtful responses in my own time rather than to have emotionally fueled, knee jerk reactions like are so common on these kinds of threads.
Also, a friendly reminder that this is Reddit and just because I shared my stance on captivity does not mean I am obligated to answer or respond to anyone’s questions/comments.
I am also a human being who is not paid by any aquaria or accrediting organization - I share my perspective because I have spent countless hours over the years volunteering my time alongside some of these organizations and have seen firsthand the important work they do. I care about cetaceans just as much as you do and it’s counterproductive to start name calling because I have a different opinion on captivity.
In fact, I was actually in the middle of drafting out a response to your questions when I saw your most recent comments and have decided I am no longer willing to engage with you. Thanks for caring about belugas. I appreciate your perspective even though it differs from mine.
Channa_Argus1121@reddit
Zoos, too.
Captive breeding(especially ones done by reputable zoos and supported by the local government) has saved numerous animal species from extinction, from Pere David’s deer to Lord Howe Island stick insects.
borgircrossancola@reddit (OP)
Thank you for your perspective!
What do you think should be done in aquaria to improve captivity for cetaceans?
Komradekitkat18@reddit
I grew up in Mystic and went to the aquarium several times for field trips. The field trips actually take you behind the scenes a lot more than general admission and show you that the aquarium is actually a sea life rescue and rehabilitation center. When I was a kid, they actually had a couple of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins that they rescued but could not release back into the wild due to injuries. They also had a porpoise that had been beached and couldn’t be released either. That’s how a lot of their seals and sea lions’ stories go as well. A few years ago, they were working really hard to breed the belugas for conservation purposes but I don’t think they were successful.
A vast majority of the large animals (dolphins, whales, sea lions) are animals that were rescued and couldn’t be released due to illness or injury.
borgircrossancola@reddit (OP)
I wish I could’ve went to the rehabilitation parts. I do know there’s at-least one steller’s sea lion named Astro that is being trained elsewhere.
They do have two very young belugas but I’m not sure they were born there
Komradekitkat18@reddit
In high school, they took us back to the seal rehabilitation tanks and they had a couple of baby seals that were the cutest things I have ever seen!
lameusernamesrock@reddit
Maybe we should just be happy seeing baby seals on documentaries. Or take trips to coastal locations where you can view baby seals safely from the shore I get that these are adorable animals, but does that give us the right to imprison them and then forced them to breed?
Mundane-Channel-1781@reddit
Of course not. But it's good to keep in mind that if we do need some rehabilitation centers, then it would be good to support entertainment services that would pay for their care
wedgered2@reddit
The shedd aquarium in Chicago is believed to be a reputable facility. But for years they had beluga deaths in the news, including the captive born calves. A quick Google search showed one death every 3 years. Knowing the ticket costs and the spectacle they put on in the name of education, the whole enterprise feels dirty.
Mundane-Channel-1781@reddit
Exactly. Most of the time the actual aquarium won't spare a dime for the complete wellness of these animals
1228maj@reddit
No belugas have been born there (I grew up there) the new members of the pod were brought down from Canada which was a big to do at the time. I think they were brought in cause the place in Canada couldn’t provide adequate space and care. Sadly, one died after arrival but it was one of those ‘it was gonna go no matter which facility it was at’ situations. They had some of the top people in the field there doing their best but such is life. I’ve helped play with the belugas (and feed and train the other critters) as part of the trainer for a day program and everything I’ve seen behind scenes and out front is that they love those animals and do everything they can to give them the best care we know of. Which helps us learn how to care better for animals in captivity and the wild in the future.
akbelugababe@reddit
I’m reading many comments asking how keeping belugas in captivity can help wild beluga populations and have a few examples to share:
• Tyonek - This is a good article from NOAA summarizing Tyonek’s story and how he is benefiting his endangered wild relatives in Cook Inlet, Alaska. In particular, they are studying his hearing. Cook Inlet is a noisy place, with lots of underwater noise from oil exploration (seismic blasting), vessels, and aircraft. Noise is listed as one of the top stressors hindering the recovery of Cook Inlet beluga whales (CIBWs), and having the opportunity to study the hearing capabilities of an actual CIBW can enable management (the National Marine Fisheries Service - NMFS) to effectively advocate for greater protections and noise mitigation in Cook Inlet. It would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to study the hearing of wild CIBWs.
• Reproduction Rates - Biologists are currently analyzing CIBW photo identification records of the past 20 years to come up with reproduction estimates. They are comparing photos of captive beluga calves at various ages with photos of wild calves to estimate the age of the wild calves. This is very important, as the latest research suggests that CIBWs could be reproducing more slowly than other wild populations.
• Stranding Response - In 2017, experts from Shedd Aquarium successfully rescued an endangered St. Lawrence beluga calf that live-stranded in a shallow creek. Without their husbandry knowledge caring for captive belugas, they would not have had the expertise to respond to this stranding.
I could include many more examples here, but these are some of the most important ones. Not trying to change anyone’s mind and it’s okay to disagree, but these are good reading materials if you are actually open to learning more about how captive belugas can benefit wild populations.
lameusernamesrock@reddit
Even if every stranded whale died, it’s not worth having facilities like this in the world. I feel like it’s just giving them some way to validate themselves.
Mundane-Channel-1781@reddit
Right. How many belugas do they need to keep captive to study? 1. maybe 2 or 3. Right??
AmerigoDspucci@reddit
Nah bc scientists prolly do cetacean butt stuff to them for “research” and now Belugas don’t know how to act
obscureorca@reddit
They actually do butt stuff to whales. It's how they take their temperature by sticking a thermometer up their ass and they jerk them off for semen collection.
AmerigoDspucci@reddit
Well getting jerked off doesn’t sound like too bad of a gig for a whale lol
obscureorca@reddit
Really? You would like it if some alien captured you for experiments, locked you in a featureless closet and occasionally butt probe or jerk you off? I'm sure the appeal of an orgasm would wear off real quick once you realize this is your life now and that your seed is going to be injected in a female against her will.
Freedomnnature@reddit
I hate seeing anything in captivity.
borgircrossancola@reddit (OP)
I wish they would be in the wild too
lakespinescoastlines@reddit
Nope. Nope. Nope.
Fiascofrog@reddit
Mystic is phasing out all the large mammals that aren’t rescues, I believe. They used to have dolphins, they won’t be getting more belugas- at last that was what I heard last.
AnyWhalesMama@reddit
I see it like this. How would a human like to be kept in a bathroom its whole life in order to be studied for the rest of the wild human population?