On the morning of June 29th, Guangzhou's Grandview Aquarium celebrated the birth of an adorable beluga whale calf!

A beluga named "Alice" successfully gave birth to a calf after a 16-month pregnancy. The newborn, measuring 175 centimeters in length, is a female and marks the first beluga whale naturally bred under artificial conditions in Guangdong this year.

Breeding beluga whales is a global challenge, both in the wild and under artificial conditions. In China, the artificial breeding of belugas is a significant endeavor that requires extensive cooperation, meticulous care, and scientific feeding, with the successful delivery being particularly challenging.

Last December, another beluga calf named "Xiaotangyuan" was born at the same Grandview Aquarium. The natural breeding of two beluga calves under artificial conditions within just six months is a rare occurrence both in China and internationally.

According to the head of the conservation team, the normal gestation period for belugas is 15-16 months. In March 2023, Grandview Aquarium's caregivers noticed elevated progesterone levels of Alice during routine check-ups, which, combined with ultrasound examinations, confirmed her pregnancy. The Aquarium immediately established a 20-member conservation team to closely monitor and ensure Alice's health throughout her pregnancy.

To provide Alice with a quiet and comfortable birthing environment, she was separated from other belugas two months prior to delivery to minimize disturbances. One month before giving birth, the beluga was continuously monitored by the conservation team for 24hours.

Since newborn belugas may not be able to nurse properly, the availability of mother's milk became a primary concern for the conservation team.

For the first 36 hours after the calf's birth, caregivers will closely monitor its condition. Specialized marine mammal formula has been prepared to ensure the calf receives the necessary nutrients.

Dr. Zhang Peijun, a researcher at the Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, stated: "The natural breeding of belugas under artificial conditions at Grandview Aquarium not only provides reproductive technology reserves for species conservation but also offers valuable material for studying the basic biology and environmental adaptation strategies of top marine predators in extreme environments."

Source: Yangcheng Evening News

今年第一头“广东籍”白鲸宝宝降生

6月29日上午，广州正佳极地海洋世界迎来可爱的白鲸宝宝降生！

一头名叫“爱丽丝”的白鲸在怀孕16个月后，成功分娩了一头小白鲸。该白鲸出生时体长175厘米，是个雌性宝宝，属今年广东第一头人工饲养条件下自然繁育的白鲸。

白鲸繁育是一个全球性的难题，无论是在野外还是在人工繁育环境下，都充满了挑战。在国内，人工繁育白鲸是一个大工程，需要多方配合、精心照料和科学喂养，而成功分娩的难度更大。

据悉，去年12月，同样在正佳极地海洋世界，白鲸宝宝“小汤圆”出生，时隔仅半年左右，人工饲养条件下自然繁育两只小白鲸，这一情况在国内乃至国际都尚属罕见。

据保育团队负责人介绍，白鲸正常怀孕周期为15-16个月。早在2023年3月，正佳极地海洋世界的保育员在对白鲸们进行定期体检时就发现，白鲸爱丽丝孕酮升高，结合B超检查后确认怀孕。景区立即组建了一支20人的保育团队，团队密切配合，以保障白鲸爱丽丝孕期身体各项指标正常。

为了给爱丽丝提供一个安静舒适的待产环境，2个月前，团队将爱丽丝与其他白鲸分隔开来，将干扰降至最低。临产前1个月，保育团队开启24小时全天陪伴白鲸待产模式。

由于初生的小白鲸无法保障具备吮吸能力，母乳的获取成为保育团队担心的重点课题。

据了解，在小白鲸出生后的36小时里，保育员将密切观察小白鲸的状态，同时也备好了海洋哺乳动物专用奶粉来保障小白鲸所需的营养。

中国科学院深海科学与工程研究所研究员张培君博士表示：“在正佳人工条件下白鲸的自然繁育，一方面可以为物种保护提供繁殖技术储备，另一方面，为研究极端环境下海洋顶级捕食者基础生物学和环境适应策略提供了良好的材料。”

文丨记者 刘星彤 通讯员 魏双双
图丨景区提供
翻译丨刘佳慧