Nov. 9/2016

Feature:
Male Pup the Second Walrus Born at Aquarium

  “The Quebec City aquarium is celebrating the birth of another baby walrus.

     A male pup was born...Sunday & aquarium staff reported that mother & baby are doing fine.

     2 weeks ago, the aquarium announced the birth of another baby pup, marking only the 7th walrus born in captivity in North America since 1930.

     Sunday’s birth brings that total to 8.

     ‘It’s been quite a hectic month,’ said Jill Marvin, director of conservation & animal care at Aquarium du Quebec.

     The walrus named Arnaliaq gave birth to a female pup 2 weeks ago, while Samka gave birth to a healthy male on the weekend. Boris is the father of both pups...

     'The babies nurse for 1.5 years...They’re milk-aholics.’...

     The new male pup weighs 66 kg, or 145 lbs. , while the 2 week-old female pup is a healthy 62 kilos (136 lbs.), said Marvin.

     'It’s great we’ve got these baby walruses, which are going t6o attract a lot of attention here at the aquarium. It’s going to give us an opportunity to talk about this species in the wild,’ she said...”


John Meagher
May 25/2016
The Gazette, Montreal

Cute Critter Pic

Weekly Chuckle

 

Memorial 

Suzie Q. (Nov. 14/2001) RIP

May 18/2016

(E.B.W.) Critter Corner

                          
Feature:
Walrus born in captivity at Quebec City aquarium

   “It doesn’t have a name yet, but a baby walrus is faring well under its mother’s care at the aquarium in Quebec City.
    The Aquarium du Québec announced the birth... noting that it was only the 7th walrus born in captivity in North America since 1930.

    So rare, in fact, the aquarium said it marked the first time in Canada a captive walrus has delivered a live full-term baby.

    Proud parents are Arnaliaq, a mother from Ungava Bay in northern Quebec, & Boris, the Russian father...

   ‘Today, the entire team at the Aquarium du Québec is overjoyed,” said the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (Sépaq), the provincial agency that manages parks & wildlife reserves...

   ...The cub was born at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

   During delivery, the mother was observed by animal guides, a veterinarian, & aquarium staff using video surveillance cameras.

   ‘Everything went naturally without any human intervention,’ according to Sépaq...

   ‘Arnaliaq is a gentle & protective mother to her child. We don’t yet know whether it is a boy or girl because no one has come close to the mother & her newborn...’ 

   ...Lucie Boulianne, a spokesperson for Sépaq, said the baby walrus will be monitored closely for the next few weeks...

   ‘It’s a very rare event,’ said Boulianne. “Of those 7 births (since 1930), only one walrus reached adult age. So we feel very privileged to have 2 walruses reach pregnancy.’

   The aquarium’s second pregnant female, Samka, is due in early June.”

John Meagher
May 9/2016
montrealgazette.com

Cute Critter Pic

Weekly Chuckle