Georgia Aquarium Is Expecting Nearly 200-Pound Baby Beluga Whale

ATLANTA, GA — A new baby beluga whale is expected soon to join Georgia Aquarium, officials announced Tuesday. Whisper, a 20-year-old beluga whale, is expected to give birth in mid-April after a pregnancy of 14 to 15 months.

Caretakers discovered the pregnancy through a routine exam. Beluga whale calves average 5.2 feet long at birth and weigh about 176 pounds, according to SeaWorld.

“Through our program of veterinary care at the aquarium, we routinely monitor the health and well-being of all of our animals, which allows us to detect even subtle changes in their health, like the upward trend in Whisper’s hormones,” Georgia Aquarium's vice president of animal health, Dr. Tonya Clauss, said in a news release. “It has been very exciting to watch Whisper’s progress and see her calf growing with each ultrasound. We are hopeful that she and the calf will have a safe delivery come spring.”

Whisper arrived at Georgia Aquarium in February 2019 from SeaWorld Orlando, alongside 32-year-old male Imaq from SeaWorld San Antonio.

“It’s been fun watching Whisper socialize with the other whales at Georgia Aquarium and learn more about her personality," said Dennis Christen, Georgia Aquarium's senior director of animal training, mammals and birds. "She is one of our more inquisitive beluga whales, and it has been very rewarding to see her curiosity grow as she integrates into this social group of belugas.”

As her pregnancy progresses, she will still receive regular ultrasounds and routine checkups from veterinarians.

“This calf is incredibly important to us, but will also be important to future generations’ ability to see and connect with these gregarious and social Arctic animals,” Christen said.